Michigan Economist Warns Strike Not Helping Economy

John Powell — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:14:50 -0400

In Michigan where the economy is already in ruins, the Grand Rapids Press highlights warnings from University of Michigan economist Don Grimes about the nationwide UAW strike:

“It's not exactly what the state needs right now,” said University of Michigan economist Don Grimes. “You've got a train wreck in Detroit and a train wreck in Lansing. It's like a perfect storm.”

“The workers will be getting $200 a week in strike pay,” he said. “Before, they were earning $1,500 a week in pay.”

A $1,300 per-week pay cut is an awful lot to ask of these workers who have families to support. Meanwhile, GM looks to lose nearly $100 million per day due to the loss of production.

Looks like UAW bosses are hitting everyone where it hurts the most: their wallets.

Drive Compulsory Unionism-Free

Patrick Semmens — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:27:32 -0400

Fall is the time of year when car companies release their new model automobiles. It also is the time of year when United Auto Worker union bosses release their list of so-called “union made” cars – with the hope that the label will attract consumers.

Of course, the UAW International union officials aren’t actually making anything. Rather by “union-made” they mean that the rank-and-file workers who make the cars are forced to affiliate with the union and those in non-Right to Work states are forced to pay dues.

For many, such a list has the opposite effect, as nearly 80 percent of Americans oppose the injustice of forced union dues and compulsory unionism.

So for those who want to support American workers who are not forced to affiliate with or pay dues to a union, here is a list of cars assembled at compulsory unionism-free auto plants here in America:*

Acura: TL
BMW: X5, Z4 Roadster
Honda: Accord, Civic, Element, Odyssey, Pilot
Hyundai: Sante Fe, Sonata
Infiniti: QX56
Mercedes: GL-Class, M-Class, R-Class
Nissan: Altima, Armada, Frontier, Maxima, Pathfinder, Quest, Titan, Xterra
Subaru: B9 Tribeca, Baja, Legacy, Outback
Toyota: Avalon,Camry, Sequoia, Sienna, Solara, Tundra

Auto Industry

Michigan Economist Warns Strike Not Helping Economy

Drive Compulsory Unionism-Free