"the automaker.... plans to import vehicles from other countries while it closes 16 US factories"
Yup, that is WHERE YOUR BAILOUT MONEY is going, 'murkn: to SAVE the U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY!!
Related: GM Stalls Out on America
Seriously, America, how much shit can you stomach?
"GM, UAW talks slowed by import dispute" by Tom Krisher, Associated Press | May 19, 2009
DETROIT - Critical concession talks between General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers are being overshadowed by a public spat about the automaker's plans to import vehicles from other countries while it closes 16 US factories.
Oh, they WANT CONCESSIONS from the UNIONS as they ELIMINATE their JOBS, 'eh?
The fight, started last week, continues with less than two weeks left before a June 1 deadline for GM and the union to agree on concessions that are a critical to the automaker's government-ordered restructuring. If GM can't reach deals with the union, debt holders, and other stakeholders by the deadline, the century-old Detroit automaker will be forced into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. GM has received $15.4 billion in government loans.
The union sent an e-mail to members Sunday, asking them to call or e-mail President Obama to protest the imports and factory closures. "The UAW strongly objects to GM's plan to close 16 manufacturing facilities in the United States, while at the same time dramatically increasing the number of vehicles it will be importing from Mexico, Korea, Japan, and China for sale in this country," the e-mail said.
Obama gonna stiff workers yet again, huh?
You'd think they would learn.
It said GM wants to nearly double the number of imports from those countries, costing 21,000 UAW jobs here. GM acknowledged in documents submitted to Congress that it plans to start importing small cars from China starting in 2011, with the number rising to more than 51,000 by 2014.
Yeah, did YOU EVER GET TAKEN for a RIDE on this BAILOUT, American taxpayers!!
Update: Obama Administration Is Not Requiring GM To Maximize U.S. Jobs In Its Restructuring
And here is something else to think about:
"Obama Announces First Nationwide Regulation of Greenhouse Gases
"Here is a classic example of not thinking things all the way thrugh.
1. The US Government just handed hundreds of billions of your tax dollars
to the existing automobile manufacturers, which even before the depression were in trouble because they failed to adapt to the changing marketplace and keep pace with foreign innovation.
2. Despite the aforesaid hundreds of billions of tax dollars, GM and Chrysler still teeter on the edge of bankruptcy. The US Government has refused to make retention of US jobs a condition of financial bailouts.
3. Now that we are hundreds of billions in the hole, and no sign of actual improvement in these existing auto companies, Obama imposes new clean air standards for new cars.
4. For the same money already poured into the big three automakers to little gain, we could have financed the construction of brand new automobile plants, with American workers, using up to date methods, to produce highly efficient cars at a lower price.
WHY DIDN'T WE DO THIS ALL ALONG?" -- Wake the Flock Up