Workers Uneasy Over Obama's Auto Plan

(CBS/ AP)  Some Chrysler workers were critical Monday of President Barack Obama's rejection of automaker turnaround plans and looked to a proposed Chrysler partnership with Italy's Fiat SpA as their company's last chance to survive the industry downturn.

"Right now it looks like our only hope," 37-year-old lineman Douglas Kozak said after arriving at the Warren Truck Assembly plant. "You've got to expect the worst and hope for the best."

The White House says Auburn Hills-based Chrysler and Detroit-based General Motors Corp. have not submitted acceptable restructuring plans.

GM chairman Rick Wagoner was forced out Sunday, and Mr. Obama said the companies must do more to receive additional financial aid from the government.

In an interview with broadcast Sunday, Mr. Obama said the companies must do more to receive additional financial aid from the government.

"We think we can have a successful U.S. auto industry. But it's got to be one that's realistically designed to weather this storm and to emerge - at the other end - much more lean, mean and competitive than it currently is," Mr. Obama told Face The Nation host Bob Schieffer.

Chrysler reportedly has been given a 30-day window to complete a proposed partnership with Fiat. The government will offer up to $6 billion if they can negotiate a deal before time runs out. If a Chrysler-Fiat deal cannot be completed, Washington may walk away.

A union official representing hourly workers at a GM transmission plant in Warren said he was shocked when he heard Wagoner had been forced out, but not entirely surprised.

"The president is making someone be (responsible) for what's going on," said Frank Rowser, financial secretary for UAW Local 909. "They're using him as a fall guy."

Some workers were critical of what they see as a double standard in how Washington has approaching bailing out the auto industry versus bailing out banks - a frequent complaint of industry advocates.

Machine repairman Don Thompson, 56, of Macomb County's Chesterfield Township said the automakers are being punished because of anger over the financial bailout.

"They're using us for the mistakes they've made in Washington," the 36-year Chrysler veteran said as he arrived Monday morning at Chrysler's Warren Stamping plant.

Erin Wynn, a material handler at the same facility, said the difference between how the two industries are treated by Mr. Obama is "absolutely ridiculous."

"I think there has got to be some kind of equality," she said.

Chrysler's proposed deal with Fiat would give the Italian company a 35 percent stake in the U.S. automaker and entree into the American market. In return, Chrysler would get badly needed small-car technology.

Mike Shepherd, 45, a die maker at Warren Stamping, was skeptical of the Fiat deal, noting that Chrysler's partners in past alliances - such as 1998's merger with Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler-Benz, which dissolved in 2007 - aren't helping the company now.

"I think Fiat's taking advantage of it to get the market share," the 17-year Chrysler veteran said.

Wynn was more hopeful.

"It's going to help strengthen our backbone. It's going to help Chrysler be what it used to be 20 years ago," she said.

But Wynn won't be there to see it. The 30-year-old has taken a buyout after nearly 11 years at Chrysler and plans to go back to school for her degree in psychology.

[sjc_1]

The dismissal of Wagoner and half the board was unnecessary. This is the first time in the last 60 days that Obama did not give careful thought to his decision. This one unnecessary act could have major repercussions as we go forward and that is one thing the President has to learn. You can make all the right decisions up until you make a wrong one and people will remember the wrong one.

[marrianna1]

I am sorry Waggoner got thrown out.

[whitemale08]

invading illegal aliens alone with chain immigration means over 200 million more uneducated, welfare loving Hispanics, plus the black population and you have an third world welfare state controlled lock, stock and barrel by the Democrat party! Long live the great leaders Obama & Nancy!
Posted by american_11-2009 at 2:45 PM : Mar 30, 2009 "
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AMEN
Posted by TheMasses19 at 3:53 PM : Mar 30, 2009 --

I would rather have Obama do what you just acused him of then for white people like us continue to shaft people by this scam of worthless derivatives and credit-default swaps.

For you to believe that we have the right to export debt packaged as worthless derivatives and credit-default swaps for hard labor in China or natural resources in Africa and Latin America shows how much of a piece of garbage people like you are.

We don't need your kind on this planet and if I had the power I would put people like you in a box tied to a large stone and throw you over board in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

You are not welcome to be called human; you're nothing but animal waste and elephant crap!

[1American]

Chrysler's proposed deal with Fiat would give the Italian company a 35 percent stake in the U.S. automaker and entree into the American market. In return, Chrysler would get badly needed small-car technology.

FIAT = Fix It Again Tony.

Chrysler's small cars have enough problems without adding Fiat to the fire.

[tx_doughboy]

"The Democrats & Obama are intending to bankrupt the USA & then they can complete the ghettoizing of the rest of the USA population the same way they did the blacks population, get the whole Nation on welfare beholden to the Democrat party and they have an lock on power forever! It has worked very successfully with the blacks, with amnesty for the 20 to 30 million, invading illegal aliens alone with chain immigration means over 200 million more uneducated, welfare loving Hispanics, plus the black population and you have an third world welfare state controlled lock, stock and barrel by the Democrat party! Long live the great leaders Obama & Nancy!
Posted by american_11-2009 at 2:45 PM : Mar 30, 2009 "

Hey dude...you forgot to include jews and gays in your angry tirade!

You blame all the problems on liberals, blacks, and hispanics! Not once did you mention any of these corporate, white collar, filthy rich scum bags that have actually caused these problems that your bumping your gums about. Only the truly wealthy have the ability lobby the government, influence judges, and pay for top dog lawyers to avoid any accountability. The fact that you fail to see that and place all the blame on liberals, poor, and colored folks is appalling.

[aziridine]

replace our failed "for profit" system, that costs HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of dollars every year, and doesn't cover 1 out of 6 people in the country. Posted by hungry1968-15
___________________________________________________________________

It would be cheaper to have the "uncovered 1 out of 6" just by insurance. The trouble is the "1 out of 6" don't think it's worth the spending money they could otherwise spend on crack and booze to obtain health care.

Following the universal health care logic, why dont we buy everyone a car? why don;t we give everyone a job? hey how bout a house?...and don't forget a free vacation every year!!!

Even better, let's out Hungry1968 in charge of the handouts!!!

[aziridine]

Wall Street and the Automakers ARE different industries! If a trader can sit at a simple desk and generate $400 million in profit with an average capital utilization of $50 million he is entitled to a sizeable chuck of the profits he generated.

On the other hand, a lugnut turner in Detroit who has the same basic skills as a hamburger flipper at McDonalds should be paid $7/hr just like the McDonalds kid. "Equal pay for equal skill". At the bloated $78/hr union wage he is currently paid he is contributing to losses. He must either accept a wage commensurate with his negligible skill level or go.

I predict that these greedy union laborers will violently oppose those who want to work in the auto plants for a reasonable wage/benefit package. They'll call the new guys "scabs" and protest. All the while realizing that their own union greed killed the goose that laid the golden egg.!!!

It'll be great to see the look on Ron Gettlefinger's face the day GM shuts the doors. Ron Gettlefinger..the man who destroyed the US auto industry!!!! LMAO.

[tx_doughboy]

"I dunno, Bunnywanker, I`ve owned 20-or-so American Autos, and they were all GREAT, sturdy, heavy, good-looking chick-magnets!

Posted by davicar2 at 12:27 PM : Mar 30, 2009"
That?s a good thing yes...but the problem is they put all their heart and soul into the "cool" cars, but they cant compete when it comes to the other kinds of cars. The imports have done a better job of engineering better quality, cleaner, and more fuel efficient cars.

For example: Last December I rented a new Pontiac G6(4 banger) and drove from TX to TN a got on average 28 MPG. My 1992 Honda Civic got better HWY mileage than that.

[stevex47]

As President, it sure must be nice to be left with a surplus, rather than a deficit from the previous Church State.

[Knyssth]

And as for that election... The ruling powers put forth several candidate that "they" want to win. We elect one. No matter who we elect, it's a puppet. Which is why we get one losing administration after another, regardless of Republican or Democrat. They want us to believe we elected someone, when actually, they were chosen before the election. So bray and bluster about how your party won and the other lost. Republican and Democrat are hust two heads on the same coin. No matter which we select, we lose.