from the readers
It’s a hand up, not a handout
When the CEOs of the Big Three went to Congress to ask for help, they were ridiculed, kicked around and made to feel like a group of bums. And what the domestic automakers asked for was only 3.6 percent of the $700 billion that already had been authorized.
Production workers’ wages and benefits were attacked, even though starting pay is less than $15 per hour and pension, health care and vacation time have taken drastic cuts.
If the Big Three auto manufacturers fail, the loss of taxes, increased unemployment and burden on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation may well propel us into a depression. This should not be allowed to happen.
The U.S. auto industry has pulled families out of poverty and lifted them into the middle class. The auto companies have paid good wages, benefits and pensions; by doing so they have contributed to the well-being of our country. Not only have good wages generated local, state and federal taxes but unemployment costs to state and federal agencies have been greatly reduced because of guaranteed employment programs.
As long as we are assessing blame, let’s not forget that laws enacted by Congress have failed to address unfair trade issues.
The competing auto companies are in countries that provide health care to their citizens, whereas GM, Ford and Chrysler pay this cost for their workers. Congress has been lobbied to correct this inequity by providing a national health care program but pleas have largely fallen on deaf ears.
The companies and their employees are not asking for a handout. They are asking for a hand up, through a loan that will be repaid.
Kelly Sparks
Retired UAW legislative representative
Ronceverte, W.Va.
Keep good jobs in this country
I, for one, would like to know just how on earth a senator from Tennessee or any other state can look down on the middle class in this country and complain they are making too much money. Members of Congress give themselves raises and have the best benefits money can buy, while refusing to do anything about the minimum wage until recently.
The government thinks sending out $600 worth of stimulus checks to taxpayers will boost the economy. Why on earth can’t they see that if we have good-paying jobs, the economy will take care of itself?
I was raised on a farm where we never killed off our cows to multiply our herd. That is exactly what we are doing when we send our good-paying jobs to Third World countries for the cheap labor.
And remember, all the foreign car makers here send their profits to their home countries. Those profits don’t stay here.
C. Jay Latham
UAW Local 599 retiree
Benton, Ky.
An open letter to Sen. Bob Corker
I was extremely disappointed in your attitude toward the Big Three autoworkers and the UAW as a whole during the auto loan hearings in Washington.
It’s obvious you have sold America out to the foreign auto manufacturers in your state, and you made it clear that in your opinion the American auto industry is not important to Tennessee or the United States.
I’m a UAW Ford retiree, and I travel through your state about six times a year, most recently in December.
Since you don’t believe the Big Three are important to Tennessee, I made it a point to fill up my American-made Ford vehicle with gas before reaching your state. And we didn’t spend one cent of my UAW Ford retirement pay in your state.
We did, however, stop and use your restroom facilities.
Ed Hardesty
UAW Local 862 retiree
Guston, Ky.