Corker has 'outstanding issues' with UAW concessions

[DainBramaged]

Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee is not yet convinced that the UAW has given up enough to support the federal loans offered to General Motors and Chrysler LLC.

In a statement to Automotive News today, Corker said it was "old news" that the UAW had agreed in recent days to eliminate the Jobs Bank at GM, Chrysler LLC and Ford Motor Co. The Jobs Bank pays idled UAW workers nearly full wages and benefits for not working. In December, the UAW suspended the Jobs Bank at each of the Detroit 3.

"The UAW agreed to do away with the Jobs Bank in early December, but there are still a number of outstanding issues," Corker said in a statement. "I look forward to seeing what progress has been made when the auto companies submit their plans next month."

The $17.4 billion federal bailout package for GM and Chrysler requires the carmakers to show by Feb. 17 how they intend to bring labor costs in line with those at the Japanese transplants.

During Congressional hearings late last year, Corker was among the most outspoken Republican critics of UAW benefits that allow idled workers to collect more than traditional state unemployment benefits. He also targeted supplemental pay, which is paid on top of unemployment benefits, bringing pay for laid-off workers to about 72 percent of working wages.

Corker hasn't softened his position since those hearings.

He said in his statement: "Chrysler indicated to us in November that they had to continue to pay upwards of 95 percent of their labor costs even if they aren't making a single car."


http://www.autonews.com/article/20090130/ANA02/901309964
(subscription only)

'Ole Bobby better get ready for the political fight of his life in 2012 because he will be Job #1 to defeat in his Senate re-election bid.

[fasttense]

1. Your damn right.

Corker/Porker is Nothing but a Union busting anti-American scum bag. And I'm going to do everything in my power to see him lose his seat in 2012.

[ogneopasno]

2. What a coincidence. I have an outstanding issue with Corker.

[Romulox]

3. Corker has no special roll to play in this matter. It was left up to President Obama

to determine if Detroit had made sufficient progress toward the non-binding goals laid out in the auto loan bill.

[jules1962]

5. That man and his sleazy politics

just makes my skin crawl. I will never forget his racist commercials when he ran against Harold Ford,Jr. Disgusting,but of course the rw people around here fell for it hook,line,and sinker.

[ThomWV]

4. A Strategy for Democrats exists here

Democrats should approach the manufacturers with this message - you need to go make nice with the unions and come to agreements with the unions on your long term plans before you come to us for a bailout. In other words put pressure on the companies to accept union terms before they can come to the table. It wouldn't take long. The car companies no longer have the luxury to hold out as they did back in the years when they had bankrolled profits to fall back on.

[marmar]

6. Another Republican POS from Dixie........

..... if we could somehow extricate these disgusting trough-feeders from government, we actually might make some progress.

And did I mention, Mr. Corker, that Michigan, despite its economic woes, is a DONOR state, meaning we give more in taxes than we receive back from the federal government. I think your state receives more than it gives.

:argh:

[southern_dem]

7. Anything less than the UAW disbanding

will be an "outstanding issue" for Corker.

[Coexist]

8. you got it.

[DainBramaged]

11. Corker needs to be woken up to the realities of Labor

When his 'cornsticherrunts' are out of work in the Foreign transplants due to the depression, maybe he'll get an earful and wake up.

[safeinOhio]

9. Sure, bitch about a hundred bucks a week sub pay for a working man

But, he says nothing about CEO golden parachutes worth hundreds of millions for out of work bosses.

[TwilightGardener]

10. It's "socialism" when the government limits rich bailout-takers' pay.

It's perfectly OK, though, to the GOPers when the government limits little Joe Schlobotnik's pay as an autoworker.

[MiniMe]

12. Put a cork on it Corker