Is this a Buick trashing site?

[ranchero]

I see two issues with the UAW that work to put the historic American car companies at a big disadvantage versus southern or foreign made cars. One is the complete lack of flexibility in making decisions only appropriate to management in the staffing of UAW plants. Of course the companies gave away their options at contract time when the threat of a strike during good times was held over their heads so they really can't complain. But the result is a long term financial burden that the competition does not have. Note Ford factories in New Jersey, Cleveland and Minnesota. They will close because they are no longer efficent. The production from those plants is surplus. Yet UAW contract requires the plant to remain open and the redundant workers remain employed until at least the contract expiration.<P>Another big problem with the UAW is that it has turned into an arm of the democrat political party. It has a much larger social agenda than simply the well being of the individual members. Has this diluted the benefit the members get from their dues? Is it a political action committee or simply a trade union representing only the interests of workers? What should be the focus? In Germany the car factories are unionized certainly but the union is not a political tool - rather it is a much more traditional craft guild where worker training and apprenticeship are key considerations.

[86 2dr.ltd]

Ah, but aint that America? These problems are over 100 yrs old in this country. Blue collar doesnt take pride in their work ,but white collar does? Will these problems continue until nothing is left? Do these "southern non-union auto workers make a fair living, with a future? Are they U.S. citizens? If the quality of workmenship is and has not been present where has the upper level management been thats susposed to keep this crap in check? Has everyone all the way to the top got a bad attitude? Why doesnt the left hand know what the right hand is doing?- because they are not connected! Survival of the fittest only applies to the business world but not in the work place. We have not been weeding out these people with bad attitudes and there ideas rub off on others. Bad attitude is everywhere, it is enormous, just look around. Then from the upper end, those of us that do or try to do a good job are to slow and we all know you cant make money that way. So then even though your an honest hard worker youve got someone climbing on your back placing an extra burden thats not needed. Its clearly a visious circle, and circles are - well?<P>So it all boils down to one thing. Aint that America, home of the free! Free to do what ever we damn well please, regardless of the end results. But oh do we wave that flag. I dont know how to get to the end of the problem but I know it exists at all levels,equally.