Health benefits have been at the top of the list for what unions have sought to hang on to. This reflects how serious union leaders feel this is. |
Historically, GM has been the most tone-deaf of the auto companies when it comes to labor issues. But York is speaking plainly and directly about critical issues between GM and the UAW. |
I suspect they don't want to strike, but they could be pushed into a corner, and if that's the case they have considerable leverage, |
I suspect they felt that taking a very hard line would send a message to the union. Instead the message that they sent was to dig in your heels. |
I think this case is, in fact, a watershed. I think what it does is -- in the most dramatic way we've seen to date -- it introduces the wages of the global economy into Main Street in Michigan, Ohio and elsewhere, |
I think what we are looking at here are exit roads from the middle class. |
If GM actually did pursue this route?there would be a really poisoned atmosphere in the United Auto Workers plants where the parts are shipped. |
If you cut wages by two-thirds, that creates a class of people that can't afford to go to Wal-Marts. If other industries do this, America will have a far smaller middle class, and the whole economy in the 21st Century begins to unravel. |
It certainly has escalated, |
It may be |
It's another sign of the tension that is enflaming this strike, ... GM is just pushing the UAW here, tweaking them. |
It's another sign of the tension that is enflaming this strike. GM is just pushing the UAW here, tweaking them. |
It's certainly representative of the discontent that's out there. The retirees are frustrated, but I don't think it represents a major threat yet. |
It's going to have significant impact on the companies and on the industry. It is a painful option for the union but it is the best option of those available. |
It's highly unpredictable what's going to happen. What unites everyone that's going to do something [today] is they are making visible their strong feelings. |