posted August 22, 2009
It is not surprising that the UAW is trying to stymie the Volkswagen plant here. It’s also not surprising that other unions are trying to impose their will around here lately as well. They anted up in the political game, so now they want their payout.
Bob Corker took on the UAW to highlight what most Americans already thought, that the UAW is a major reason why the domestic auto industry fell apart. So now they come here to stir up trouble, but we can be assured that this is only the first step.
The other unions still talk about local this and local that. I read where nearly $500 million in Volkswagen contracts have been awarded to area and state companies, but unions complain because it isn’t union labor. Then I read where the Washington labor bosses are complaining about Georgia and Alabama people working on the site. I’ll bet many of them live closer to the plant than a lot of Tennesseans working there, but it’s just another union scare tactic.
In two opinion pieces published here, I mentioned that the perception was that local companies were not getting much of the work at Volkswagen and that publishing the bid results would be a good idea. More recently, I wrote about the unions trying to get preferential treatment by the Chattanooga Council. They have enough to deal with on annexation, so are they going to let the unions take over too?
How anyone in this city could ever stand for a bunch of union agitators to dictate who can and can’t work for anyone else is beyond me. Surely most people have seen what the UAW, United Steelworkers, Teamsters, Service Employees, and many other unions have done to destroy this country. Imagine if they organized the big banks too, then the bailout would be 10 times bigger.
We got a great break in this town with Volkswagen. They’re chasing Toyota as the world’s biggest automaker. Let’s not blow this chance to revitalize Chattanooga. The unions blew it for us in the 60’s, so let’s hope the council doesn’t let them make Chattanooga another Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, or Buffalo. Let’s hope we turn our backs to the UAW and let them re-ruin GM somewhere else.
Craig Carroll
Chattanooga
Alamo3csc@yahoo.com
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GM Manager Rick Wagoner's total compensation for 2006 was $10.2 million, including $3 million in option awards and $3.6 million in stock awards.
I guess it was the $30-per-hour Union line worker that broke GM, not the CEO's wages. That's funny, very funny.
Frank Smith
Hixson
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I must say I agree with Mr. Carroll on his view of unions. Unions are a form of extortion if you ask me. Either you do as they say or they shut you down. Blackmail or extortion, plain and simple.
A lot of people say they are for the little man and vote for who the unions endorse. Believe me, if you have a small non-union business and don't display the union logo, many that want the union/Democrat vote will not do business with you.
Say for instance you do a little sign work, are a small business or "the little man" trying to squeeze a living out of this world on your own. Unless you suck up to the unions and display their little logo in the corner, you won't get a dime of business from Democrat politicians due to their love affair with the "big man" - the unions. So much for the Democrats being for the little man.
If you don't believe me, look into it. If you think it is OK, either you are in a union or need to join one. Extortion is illegal, unless you are union. Tell me how I am wrong.
Thanks, Mr. Carroll, for spurring this issue. The community needs to take a stand.
Joe Blevins
Guild, Tn.
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Why? I personally don't see anything wrong with paying unskilled employees more than many educated and skilled professionals to turn a screw.
Bob Martha
East Ridge
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Mr. Carroll, you stated that "Surely most people have seen what the UAW, United Steelworkers, Teamsters, Service Employees, and many other unions have done to destroy this country." What information is this comment based on?
By "destroy", are you referring to the fact that workers organized unions, stood their ground against all odds and demanded fair treatment for all workers? These unions helped lay the foundations for things like fair wages, decent working hours, humane treatment of employees, workers compensation and reasonable benefits for workers.
These are the very things that you and other workers benefit from today, no matter what or where your job is in this country, union or not.
The UAW didn't ruin GM. It was a combination of irresponsible leadership, mismanagement of assets, poor choice of product lines and greed by those in charge.
You and Mr. Corker should read USA Today or the Wall Street Journal once in a while and broaden both your financial information horizons before pointing fingers and ranting from atop your soapboxes.
As far as VW being a break for us and revitalizing Chattanooga, let's wait until the property tax bills and sales tax increases come due before we throw that party. In the meantime, run on out and turn your application in at VW. You will let us know how that turns out for you, won't ya?
Tom Donelson
Hixson
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Volkswagen and the potential for a new economy is a very positive development for Chattanooga. Being negative about their presence in terms of unions is missing the boat.
First, Chattanooga has had an long relationship with a variety of unions, including many that are still here. While I have never been a union member, I recognize that there are pros and cons of unionization. Unions are not inherently evil.
The more important point is to recognize the magnet effect that VW’s presence brings to our area. When the auto industry took off in Detroit, that city was the center for technology at the time. It was the Silicon Valley of the day and thousands of talented people moved to Detroit.
One of them was my grandfather who went to Detroit from Mexico and worked in the auto industry for 50 years. The auto industry is too dispersed now for that same scenario – probably a good thing. However, the multiple benefits – jobs, supply-chain growth, research and development, raising educational levels, etc. – will be beneficial for the entire region.
Lawrence G. Miller, PhD
Hixson
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First, some commentators here refuse to acknowledge the devastating effect the labor unions had on the downfall of the formerly great American automakers. I agree that the government and company management contributed to the downfall, but it is widely believed that union laziness and greed more than anything else are what contributed both to the poor quality of and high prices of American cars.
Second, I see that someone encourages the Democrats to press on with demolishing our excellent health care system without Republican support. While I agree that is a possibility, it is certain that by doing so the Democrats will condemn themselves to massive losses at the polls for the next several election cycles. They'll also make Jimmy Carter look like a great leader compared to Obama, meaning that Obama will be out after Jan. 20, 2013.
The same mentality that supports the labor unions supports big government. Both labor unions and government want to flex muscle to control the lives of others. They both want power at all cost. Government and labor unions reward people for not working, and both result in mediocrity at best.
The recipe for bringing labor unions into Chattanooga to poison the workforce at the new VW is the same one that electing liberals to positions of power produced. Whenever incentive is removed from the marketplace, whether by socialization of medicine or by unionizing a work force, the results are always terrible.
GM and Chrysler as we knew them are gone due to government regulations and union thuggery. Are we willing to see our doctors and hospitals go the same way? That's what nationalization of any industry, even the health care industry, will bring.
Jim Nichols
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In response to Mr. Carrols rant about the bad ole unions. Maybe you're right; maybe volks will give him a job and pay him with a company chit instead of a regular pay check so he can only buy products from the company store. Maybe he will take less pay than the guy working next to him. Being the good company man that he is, after all, why should get equal pay for equal work? Maybe he can let the company hire his very young children to do the menial dangerous labor for pennies on the dollar. After all, they are just kids and expendable; you can always have more.
Sounds silly I know, but these are only the tip of the iceberg of things the union have fought to change over the years. The unions aren't to blame for the auto industry failure; poor management and corporate greed are.
Mark Walker
Proud union member
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The only reason unions came about in the first place was because of bad management that exploited workers. Responsible management working in harmony with responsible union leadership can achieve great successes. Detroit's failures came from short sighted union leadership that protected non productive workers and short sighted management that was only looking forward to hitting the next quarter's financial targets.
Those that blame only the unions have to remember that management agreed to and signed off on the provisions of those labor contracts.
All Americans need to pull their respective heads out of the sand and realize that we are competing in a global marketplace. If we fail to understand that fundamental point, we are doomed to become a second class nation. We need to put our collective and petty arbitrary grievances behind us and move forward. Failure to do anything less will only hurt our children and grandchildren's future.
Steve Combs
Rossville
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