Thursday 11:45 I heard there would a noon press conference from UAW head Ron Gettelfinger. Detroits channel 7 carried it and I believe CNN carried part of the it. About 8 or 9 minutes into the press conference Detroit’s channel 7 news I noticed scrolled on the bottom of the screen that a message from Mi Senator’s Carl Levin’s office said that a bipartisan agreement had been reached. Later we heard there would be an announcement at 2:30 regarding the agreement. Then at 1:30 we heard the speech from Reid and Pelosi about show us the plan we’ll show you the money. This put Gettlefingers speech off the headlines and into the back burner. As it happened I thought someone was in a big way trying to stop Gettlefinger’s message from getting out. Here’s what UAW head Gettlefinger said about Alabama’s non union auto jobs. I could not find a transcript so I did it myself, “g” was that work.

But, lets go to the competitive piece of it first of all. Since 1992 states where we have transplants located have put in over 3 billion dollars in incentives. And I would point out that that’s the money that the state settled for. And I want to go specifically to Alabama if I could for a minute. We have

Hyundai Motor Company that got $252.8 million in incentives
Toyota there got $29 million in incentives
Honda $158 million
And Mercedes $253 million in incentives

It just seems odd to us that we can help the financial institutions in this country. That we can offer incentives to our competitors to come here and compete against us. But at the same time were willing to walk away from an industry that is the backbone of our economy. And while I read these figures to you which is the actual figures that we’ve been able to dig up I want to go to one particularly. And this is the plant, the Mercedes plant in Alabama. As it turned out as I’ve said Alabama offered $253 million dollars. But the state offered to train the workers, clear and improve the sites, upgrade the utilities, buy 2,500 vehicles and it’s estimated that incentive package totaled some where around $175 million dollars, oh excuse me $175,000. per employee to create those jobs there. And on top of this the state gave this auto maker a large parcel of land around $250 to $300 million dollars that was the same price or cost to them of building a facility.

So we can support our competition but we can’t support an industry that’s in need. And this need was not brought about because of what the industries done.

http://firedoglake.com/2008/11…..ructuring/

Here is Gettlefinger’s press conference. http://www.wxyz.com/mostpopula…..b482c1e594

Continue to make the point that there will be nothing to keep the industries in the south moving to Mexico or China.

Continue to make the point this will hit the whole country in a difficult way and weaken our whole country.

He needs to stop fighting the Civil War.

Getting the big 2.5 would destroy our military industry and kill our intellectual properties developed and being developed through the industry and UAW backed corporations. I wonder does Shelby have Russian, Chinese, North Korean…national threat based relationships?

I am deeply surprised Arnold has not been out in front lobbying for the auto bailout. His state is at a terrible rate of unemployment ad it is a huge state. My understanding is that the state unemployment could jump another 2-3% if the 2.5 tank. And that does not include those sectors hit by reverse stimulus from unemployed citizens. So that 2-3% is probably higher.