Michigan and the UAW

The UAW is an organization whose umbrella's shadow spreads across the breadth and depth of this country. It does not notice the geographical boundaries of Michigan as they bleed away into Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. A UAW represented job in Indiana or Texas is every bit as important as one that is represented in Michigan. It isn't in the charter of the UAW to try and coddle a state where many of its jobs happen to be located.

The UAW is, in effect, a corporate-like organization looking out for all of their shareholders (members) much in the same way that GM and Ford must look after theirs.

If people are critical of the big three for not recognizing that Michigan suffers when they lay off local workers, they should at least be as critical of the UAW that looks at raw union membership numbers ahead of any sort of state loyalty. If people are critical of GM, Ford and Chrysler for leaving the state, they should be at least as bitter at the UAW for giving them so many incentives to shuffle across the border.

Which brings me to a quote from today's Lansing State Journal that concerns two concurrent strikes taking place in the Lansing area:

"I don't think this strike is that big a deal at all for GM," said David Cole, chairman of the Ann Arbor-based Center for Automotive Research.

"What really matters is that this strike is saying: 'This state is an unfriendly place to bring new manufacturing jobs.' "

The labor unrest could make other companies think twice about locating new factories in the state. For example, no foreign car maker has built an assembly plant in Michigan, instead choosing locations such as Alabama and Texas.

Cole said the UAW doesn't seem to understand that the union's actions harm Michigan.

"I wish (UAW President) Ron Gettelfinger would look in the mirror and say 'I am killing Michigan' and understand what he is doing," Cole said.

With all due respect to Mr. Cole, I think Ron Gettelfinger does understand what these strikes do to the reputation of Michigan as a place to conduct business, I just do not believe that is of any concern to him. He simply could not care less. Gettelfinger, despite his reputation as being a short tempered jerk, can still see charts and read the statistics.

Ron Gettelfinger, president of the UAW, doesn't see this as Michigan vs. Indiana or Alabama or Texas. He sees this as the UAW versus the fat cat auto industry executives. This is rich versus poor as far as he is concerned. This is the haves versus the have-nots. And, incidentally, Gettelfinger is from Kentucky and received his college education in Indiana. If Gettelfinger had to choose between Michigan and Kentucky or Indiana he might very well choose Kentucky or Indiana.

Which is really a shame because Michigan has been very friendly to the unions. Many of those in our state government (up to and including our current governor) are still beholden to organized labor even though organized labor has long ago abandoned any loyalty to Michigan. Our legislature has, through the years, passed a lot of legislation aimed at strengthening the union and granting it legal leverage. Right to work? Not here.

The truly sad thing is that most UAW members from Michigan would prefer to stay in Michigan and appreciate the state despite the animus of Gettelfinger. They do appreciate its four seasons and its incredible outdoor opportunities. Despite labor's relatively high wage scale in Michigan, the state remains much less expensive than many to live in.

While it might be their desire for many Michigan auto workers to stay in Michigan, it isn't necessarily Gettelfinger's concern to keep their jobs here. Gettelfinger is a bottom line man, and the bottom line is measured in different terms. He rolls the dice with someone else's job, not his own.

So, good luck to you workers that have thrown in your lot and faith with Ron Gettelfinger. I do hope it does work out. However, I also hope you are aware of something, that snowmobile in your garage won't work all that well in the hill country of Texas.