[Pen-l] End of the Road ?

["Charles Brown" <charlesb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

End of the Road: Is the Auto Industry Dead?

By Mark Brenner and Jane Slaughter, Labor Notes

Posted on November 19, 2008, Printed on November 19, 2008


In the 1980s Chevrolet proclaimed itself the "Heartbeat of America." 
Today many would say that the American auto industry qualifies for life 
support. Last November, General Motors (owner of the Chevy brand) 
announced that it was cutting 25,000 jobs and closing up to 12 factories 
by 2008.

The news came one month after auto parts giant Delphi declared 
bankruptcy, promising to shutter at least a dozen plants and cut as many 
as 24,000 jobs in three years time. Ford completed the grim hat trick in 
January, revealing a plan to cut 30,000 jobs by 2012.

Just months before, GM and Ford had convinced Solidarity House, 
headquarters of the once-mighty United Auto Workers, to make $1 billion 
in concessions to help pay for retired auto workers' health benefits. 
Detroit is abuzz over the additional give-backs the Big Three auto 
makers (GM, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler) are likely to wrest from the 
union in next year's contract talks, and the rank-and-file hear no tough 
talk -- let alone action -- from their leaders.

http://www.alternet.org/story/107489/ 





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