Ron Gettelfinger picks a fight he can’t win
This is going to be a quick post.
In a desperate attempt to salvage some sort of deal in Congress to bail out the Big Three automakers, United Auto Workers president Ron Gettelfinger is trashing the auto industry that the State of Alabama has built.
He just ticked off a list of incentives that Hyundai, Toyota and Mercedes were offered in exchange for locating their businesses here in Alabama.
I will try to find the clip for you on CNN.com, because that’s where I’m watching it.
Gettlefinger appears to be making the argument that if Alabama can offer foreign automakers incentives to come to America, then the federal government can bail out the domestic automakers.
Apples and oranges.
No, not oranges. Foxes. Apples and foxes.
Alabama built its own incentives. The money did not come from the federal government.
Alabama’s incentives were in the millions. The Big Three want BILLIONS.
Alabama is a right-to-work state; in other words, its workers aren’t unionized. You know that the Big Three are.
These are new jobs in Alabama, new jobs that have come here and spawned other new jobs in suppliers. The Big Three have had their plants and their jobs and their management for more than 100 years.
Gettelfinger is making the worst argument ever for the bailout.
I am writing my column about this this week.
I’m sure Alabama Gov. Bob Riley will have a ready response for Mr. Gettelfinger. When it is posted, I will link to it for you.
