Day: May 11, 2008

American Axel Update #4

This is from the news in Detroit papers.

AW President Ron Gettelfinger said Saturday he thought the union was close to a contract deal to end a strike against American Axle until the auto parts supplier offered a proposal that includes closing three plants.

Gettelfinger told WWJ-AM (950) in Detroit that the latest proposal came as a surprise Friday. He said it included closing a facility in Cheektowaga, N.Y., in addition to two other closures that previously had been discussed.

“I think it definitely made it worse, because now we’re facing another closure,” Gettelfinger said.

He said the union planned to remain at the bargaining table through the weekend, but said, “I don’t know where we’re at because the company changes their position every time we turn around.”

American Axle spokeswoman Renee Rogers told the Associated Press that she could not comment on specifics of a proposal. She said talks continued Saturday and the company continues to seek a U.S. market-competitive labor agreement.

“We have consistently offered proposals significantly higher than the agreement that our competitors have, because we want to end this,” Rogers said. “And they have been consistently turned down by the UAW.”

Detroit-based American Axle is a small company that gets 80% of business from GM, its former parent. It makes axles, driveshafts and stabilizer bars for pickups, such as the Chevrolet Silverado — GM’s top-selling vehicle.

Many of its U.S. competitors won deals from the UAW to pay newly hired workers about $14 per hour. But American Axle workers say they won’t take that big of a pay cut from a company that made $37 million last year.

The Union is showing the cajones to stand by their position. The workers and their livelihood has always got be the prime negotiating position. We wish you, brothers and sisters, all success.

A Religious Rant

I have no problem with people of faith.  I have no problem with their faith, whatever it may be.  religion is a personal thing and as such should remain between the person and their God.  But in the past years I have witnessed all sorts of religious activism, some I can understand and some I cannot.

The “Support Life” is one that makes little sense.  I understand that some people are against abortions, which is cool, but these same people are the staunchest supports of war.  Does that mean that life is important until you come out of the womb and then you are just another statistic?

Where does one draw the line in support of life?  You either support all life or you do not. but to turn it into a political issue is just stupid!  ALL life is important and not an issue for candidates to threw out there to gain votes.  If you like pandering then that is your bag, but I want real issues that concern real Americans.

How Ugly Is Ugly?

The Clintons seem to appear to be willing to win the nomination anyway they can.  That means if it is an ugly win, so be it.  But on the other hand it looks like they are willing to lose just as ugly as they can, if it comes to that.  Does not appear the the election ugly rhetoric is slacking up now that Obama is the presumptive Dem nominee.

The Clintons were caught flat footed and blind sided by the campaign of Obama.  This upstart came from virtually now where to snatch the limelight from the Clintons.  This was unacceptable; they were to inevitable nominee and now they are trying to reclaim that anyway they can.

I have some pundits claim that this ugliness is somehow good for the Party, that is bullsh*t!  The damage the Cli ntons are inflicting on the Party could have long lasting consequences.  The goodwill the Bill had with the people is slowly deteriorating.  They will have a difficult time convincing the people that they are truly concerned with the plight of the American people.  They are looking like it has been ALL self-interst all these years.  It is just now showing its real face, for years they had the people believing in them and their policies, which by the way are part and parcel of the economic problems we face today.

The Clinton will lose their power with the American people, that they will no longer be seen as the leaders of the Dem Party. It also appears that the Clintons are so worried that if they lose this round that it could very well be their final curtain call in this docudrama.

Personally, it is way past time for a change in the leadership, the policies of the Clintons and the DLC have brought the US to the brink of economic collapse.

Weekly News UpDate

The news that you cannot use was mostly politics and the wedding of the Bush woman child. You just think that cable news gives you all the news you can use…it is a lie.,..they give you some news and mostly crap…my updates show you the crap.

1–Cyclone hits Burma–40,000+ dead

2–75 students in 7 Frats at San Diego State get busted on drugs trafficking charges–higher education?

3–15 Philly cops caught beating 3 suspects on camera–are the just stupid?

4–More wrecks, crashes and chases–who f*cking cares?

5–More bad weather…more tornadoes…more rain…………

6–Another Repub bites the sexual dust–Rep Fosella, a champion of morality has admitted he fathered an illegitimate child.

7–Yet another construction crane accident–in Tacoma, WA.

That is it…all the news that NO one can use….Peace Out!