Watching Closely... 4.

EVENT

" But rather than walking off a cliff in full fury, these union members would be better off letting a bankruptcy judge decide what their compensation should be in an atmosphere of labor peace." - Flint Journal editorial, 12/9/2005

The run down is here.

Update #4 is: Striking Delphi, a Flint Journal editorial, 12/9/2005

As usual, the Flint Journal is taking a moderate, conciliatory tone, essentially their response to any local dilemma whether pertaining to education, municipal government, or economics. The fact of the matter is that:

1) A union that cannot strike is a union without power.
2) A union that does not strike in response to eggregious, unscrupulous, and self-destructive corporate behavior is tantamount to a union that can not strike.
3) The editorial is directed to the UAW as if it is the sole agency here, but the fact of the matter is that not only is Delphi administration responisible for the bankruptsy in the first place, but Delphi administration has the most options to reopen negotiations on terms more amicable to the workforce.

By refusing to strike in a "march off a cliff," the UAW would be only briefly postponing the inevitable decline of American automotive companies, while accelerating the erosion of labor that has been afflicting this nation for the last fifty years.

Delphi Automotives, on the other hand, has a special opportunity to reconcile with the UAW, and forward their own agenda to reduce overhead, by eliminating golden parachutes and sweetheart deals that are clearly unproductive and unreasonable given the present situation. Delphi must seek to recruit management looking to list a company's salvation on their resumes instead of relying upon the security of a "get out of jail free." Such individuals are available for the taking, and frankly are more qualified to save a corporation in the brink of bankruptsy.

The UAW, on the other hand, must fight for its workers' rights, and surrendering or postponing that obligation for the short-term reward of placating a suicidal leadership will not save jobs in the long-run, either in Flint or elsewhere.

In short, there is no solution to Delphi's crisis that does not involve sharp sacrifice and calculated risk on both ends. This is a high stakes game of chicken, and this time, the UAW cannot afford to turn aside first.

If they do, they cede the right to race.

Their bargains would become moot.

END OF POST.