And The Name Calling Begins: Machinists Union Calls Senators A Group Of Benedict Arnolds

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers today rejected attempts by a trio of Senate Republicans to deny responsibility for their campaign to force General Motors, Chrysler and Ford into bankruptcy and possible liquidation.

"In a move worthy of Benedict Arnold, a handful of Senate Republicans this week successfully conspired to deny federal aid to U.S. automakers," said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. "It ranks second only to their attempt to blame autoworkers themselves for failing to provide sufficient concessions to satisfy GOP demands."

The campaign to blame autoworkers began immediately after the effort by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby and Tennessee Republican Bob Corker to block the $14 billion aid package for automakers.

"With the U.S economy on the brink of a deep and prolonged recession, it is unthinkable that these lawmakers would deliberately kill an effort that could save as many as three million American jobs," said Buffenbarger.

With unemployment at a 26-year high and millions of jobs at risk from a collapse of the U.S. auto industry, the next move may be to loosen the strings on the $700 billion already approved by Congress to bolster frozen credit markets.

Shredmo - 12/12/2008 4:40:03 PM

0 Boost

How many of these actual workers have given up anything to union negotiations? From what I can tell, most of the concessions are for new hires. Sure, maybe a few of these people receive the reduced benefits, but I'd bet the majority have lost nothing to Union negotitions.

DinamoR - 12/12/2008 5:12:28 PM

+5 Boost

its not the worker salaries that is killing GM, its health care costs for everyone including retired workers. germany and japan are doing better cuz they have health care systems that don't put the burden on business. Hillary wanted to fix this thing over a decade ago, but repubs think that would be "communism". so there you go. enjoy bankrupcy.

veyron1001 - 12/12/2008 8:24:08 PM

+1 Boost

I am loving the recession with $1.53 a gal for regular gas.

brammer - 12/12/2008 7:41:31 PM

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This company had months- if not YEARS- to start fixing things up. Instead they waited and waited. Now, they want a bailout. Do you really think they're gonna be able to shape up in the next few months until that money runs out? Don't think so... Good luck

brammer - 12/13/2008 6:18:46 PM

+1 Boost

"It was not a problem until the credit crunch hit." Isn't the credit crunch an issue of 2008? GM lost $2 Billion in 2006. This isn't a new problem.

veyron1001 - 12/12/2008 8:22:36 PM

-1 Boost

The sooner the refresh the better.

RS4inPA - 12/13/2008 5:30:21 AM

-1 Boost

let them go bankrupt. poor management and greedy corrupt unions are a bad mix. if they can't compete
then they should not be in business. last i checked we are a capitalistic society....not a socialistic one. other automakers will gladly fill the void.