Bailout of the Big Three - Nov. 15

The funds that would eminate from the proposed taxpayer funded bailout of the big three American automakers would apparently go largely toward maintaining United Auto Workers negotiated salaries and benefit packages. UAW salaries range as high as $80.00 an hour, almost twice the wages offered to workers at Japanese auto manufacturing plants and three times the average of other manufacturing companies.

The UAW also negotiated health care benefits that are among the most comprehensive in the country, costing their workers and retirees an average of $10 to $21 dollars per month.

If a UAW employee is laid off, they have the option of joining a so-called Jobs bank which is actually the exact opposite. That laid off employee will collect almost his full pay and in some cases for the rest of his life.

I would rather see the companies declare bankrupsy and re-negotiate their union contracts than give them a single taxpayer dime. They will continue to make cars and probably create a more competitive product. Let's not succumb to their threats.