Not surprisingly, cutting wages isn’t high on
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger’s auto industry to-do list. Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress Tuesday,
Gettelfinger suggested that the U.S. government needs to be a big part of the solution. The three areas where the
government should help, according to Gettelfinger, are outlined after the jump.
1. Revamp U.S. trade policy.
The UAW is opposed to the government’s free trade policies in particular, and the trend to globalization of
manufacturing in general. (I’m afraid that horse has already left the barn.)
2. A national health insurance
program. His position is that the problem is universal, and not restricted to the auto industry. (The current President
is adamantly opposed to a national program. Maybe after the next election.)
3. An alternative fuel incentive
program for automakers. Gettelfinger says the need to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil points to an
opportunity to move to alternative fuels – if the government provides incentives for automakers. (This is really the
trade issue revisited – the market is already doing a good job of stimulating alternative fuel vehicles, and the
government already subsidizes E85 and hybrid cars. The UAW really wants to ensure that new auto technology jobs stay in
the U.S.)
The UAW’s detailed Washington legislative agenda for 2006 is here. It’s interesting reading.