Are The Unions At Fault? Motor City On The Verge Of Financial Collapse

Let the numbers — or Ernst & Young's monthly assessment of Detroit's deteriorating finances — do the work, Mr. Mayor.

Not threats of angling to become a state-appointed emergency manager, arguably the dirtiest four words in this town's political lexicon. Not another round of beating on the city's unions, whose leaders won't see things your way until there is no other choice. Not muscling City Council, which for the first time in memory possesses a working majority willing to make the tough calls.

You have to make them first, and the numbers will help because numbers cannot be denied — just ask the old General Motor Corp. or Chrysler Group LLC or the United Auto Workers, poster children for the wages of this town's denial.

If current cash flow projections by the finance staff, working for six months with a team from Ernst & Young, show Detroit could run out of cash as early as February, it won't matter if the city's unions want to delay until June (when their current contracts expire) talks of more concessions on pensions and health care.

Joe_Limon - 11/4/2011 3:43:06 PM

-3 Boost

What a poorly written article, it hurt my head trying to get past the horrendous grammar.

Agent009 - 11/4/2011 4:27:48 PM

+7 Boost

Possibly a product of the Detroit Public School system?

Larrybel2000 - 11/4/2011 5:15:47 PM

+8 Boost

To answer your question I would say YES. The union is largely at fault.

thetruth01 - 11/4/2011 5:51:57 PM

+3 Boost

Which union is that? Do you have any idea of the complexities of Deetoit's problems, problems that go back 40 years? Doesn't matter. It's the fault of "The Union."

thetruth01 - 11/4/2011 5:50:18 PM

+5 Boost

whats your point?

uaw_lax - 11/5/2011 12:07:30 AM

-11 Boost

009 Give it up. The UAW is made up of hard working individuals just as any other group of people some do there job well and some dont. Your weak stories on union bashing are getting more ridiculous every day. Im not sure if this is a car site or Fox news anymore.

PUGPROUD - 11/5/2011 6:31:27 AM

+4 Boost

There is enough fault and greed to go around to the unions (auto and public workers), politicians and auto executives. It's a malady being played out across this once great land.

85bmw745i - 11/6/2011 1:02:49 AM

-1 Boost

Don't know why you got so many deboosts you speak the truth. I gave you a +1. Wonder how many deboost I'll get lol

internationalmanofmystery - 11/7/2011 10:07:53 AM

0 Boost

!

MBCLS07 - 11/5/2011 4:59:30 PM

+5 Boost

You're absolutely correct, 1911. What we're witnessing in California, Detroit, and many other major metropolitan areas is the inevitable result of Democrat rule and the implementation of "progressive" policies. Unfettered illegal immigration, unsustainable spending, anti-business policies, incestuous alliances between politicians and unions, punitive taxation and the promotion of an entitlement mentality can only end one way.
People who continue to vote Democrat in the face of consistently disastrous results deserve what they get.