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December 15, 2008

Senate GOP Rejection of Auto Loans Seen as “First Shot Against Organized Labor”
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General Motors has announced plans to idle twenty of its North American
factories during the first three months of 2009. GM made the
announcement on Friday, one day after Senate Republicans blocked a vote
to approve $14 billion in loans for GM, Chrysler and Ford. President
Bush said his administration is now considering tapping the bank bailout
funds to keep GM and Chrysler out of bankruptcy. Ron Gettelfinger,
president of the United Autoworkers, blamed Senate Republicans on the
collapse of the auto loan package.

Ron Gettelfinger: "We could not accept the effort by the Senate GOP
caucus to single out workers and retirees for different treatment and to
make them shoulder the entire burden of any restructuring.”

A leaked internal memo indicates Republicans viewed defeating the loans
as a “first shot against organized labor.” The memo stated, “This is the
Democrats’ first opportunity to pay off organized labor after the
election. This is a precursor to card check and other items. Republicans
should stand firm and take their first shot against organized labor,
instead of taking their first blow from it.”



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