Guys, can I add my two cents here? I have been on both sides of the pay scale. I was a union member for several years. Writting on the wall says "jobs are getting thin, and plants are closing" So, while all my friends were hunting, fishing and spending time at their cabins in Michigan (those who live in Michigan know what I am talking about. Try driving north on I75 on a Friday, or south on I75 on Sunday). Anyhow, I busted my ass and earned my bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering. I worked for Chrysler as a Manufacturing Engineer and left them in June or 06 and moved to Savannah, Georgia and work as a Manufacturing Engineer for Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.
I was a 3rd generation auto worker and I am the first person in my family to ever get a college degree. I still have family working at the Flint truck and bus plant. My father in law retired from the Grand Blanc metal fab, both my grand fathers and one grandmother retired from the Fisher body plant on Saginaw street. Sister and her husband work for Ford in Dearborn.
You hear union workers blaming management, you hear management blaming the union. I feel they both are at fault. For example, upper management gives out huge bonuses to their top executives during a down sizing, why? well, they say it is to retain experienced management. Fine, but they were there and part of the reason for the down sizing. Now in Japan, when a company is performing poorly, the first to go is upper management. Now, the union was created for a reason. The standard for a worker was terrible, i.e. long hours, work conditions, hard to take time off, very low pay. BUT...........the union has become fat and lazy. They say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, well a union is only as good as its laziest person. Unions are not all that bad but they need to be part of the solution and weed themselves out of bad employees.
Also, has anyone really sat down and realize that in the last 20 or so years, we have become a more global economy? no really, think about it, it can not hold third world nations to American work standards and any compnay is in the business solely to make money, that is it. Also, EPA standards are more relaxed in smaller countries along with pay scale and benefits.
I still drive American auto manufacturer vehicles, but i have to be honest with you, I am considering a Toyota or Honda for my next car.
I could go on and on and on about the auto industry and unions but I do not think you want to hear it.
I think in order to really save the American auto industry, both the management and union need an overhaul.
It is sad that I have a brother in law who is one of the worlds laziest sorry SOB's on this planet can turn a wrench and make $35/hr, all because his dad and uncle where union officials and got him hired in 10 years ago.
I still think there are signs at the union halls that say if you park a foreign vehicle in the lot, it will be towed. My thing is this, I used to own a 1998 Dodge ram ext cab 4x4, it was made in Mexico but i would be allowed to park in the lot and not be bothered. But, if you parked your Isuzu Hombre there, well get ready to see it towed and why? the Hombre is a Chevy s10, built on the same line or at least it was.
I say, I earn my own money, so I will buy what I want, you do the same and do it knowing I will not to any damage to your vehicle.
Mike.
Mike.
To insinuate that because people buy foreign cars makes them un-American, is just looking for a fight. 
Mike.
