The Rethugs and the media came after my union with lies and distortions I couldn't get any support

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=6823538

The media myth: Detroit's $70-an-hour autoworker

November 25, 2008 3:12 pm ET

NNN0LHI (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-21-09 08:37 AM

Original message

Snake Andrew Ross Sorkin slithering back on to my TV like he is some kind of financial expert

http://mediamatters.org/columns/200811250012

The media myth: Detroit's $70-an-hour autoworker

November 25, 2008 3:12 pm ET

It's been one week since New York Times financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin wrote that at General Motors, "the average worker was paid about $70 an hour, including health care and pension costs."

The nugget was part of a column in which Sorkin argued that the government should not bail out the ailing Big Three automakers and that they instead should embrace bankruptcy.

Sorkin's point was that labor costs were out of control -- workers enjoyed "gold-plated benefits" -- and that during bankruptcy, the auto companies could address those runaway wages.

As I mentioned, it's been one week since the column appeared, which seems like plenty of time for Sorkin and the Times to correct the misleading $70-an-hour claim. But to date, there's been no clarification from the newspaper of record or from Sorkin himself.

And he isn't alone. Appearing on NPR last week, Times senior business correspondent Micheline Maynard told listeners that the "hourly wage" of Detroit's union autoworkers had been driven up "towards $80 an hour."

Somebody at the Times needs to clarify the record, because the average United Auto Workers member is not paid $80 an hour. Or even $70. Not even close. Yet (thanks to the Times?) the issue has become a central talking point in the unfolding national debate about the future of America's automotive industry.

Indeed, that $70-an-hour meme, actively promoted by the anti-union conservative media, has ricocheted around the traditional press as well as the political landscape, where it was picked up by congressional critics last week during hearings and used to argue against aiding GM, Ford, and Chrysler.



This lying prick and his employer the NYT can go fuck themselves. He has a new book? He can stick that book up his ass sideways.

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I didn't think we had any union people on the board back then so I gave up. Now that other unions are under attack I see we have a lot of union members here. I sure hope all you union member supported my union when you had the chance. Because whenever we lose one union job here in the US, that weakens everyone else's union. Including yours. Didn't people think their union jobs were going to come under attack after they finished with us UAW members? Did some think they had immunity from this kind of thing?

Don

Edit: Thank you to the two DUers who kicked my thread last year. I really did appreciate it.

and we defended the UAW to the hilt. To no avail mind you.

:toast:

Don

and from that... yep we've been here, and I will also blame Union Leadership. They tend to be VERY CONSERVATIVE and put down the rebels, err radicals.

At this point I could almost write the barebones of this.

They decided to spend their money at businesses where the workers at those companies voted down union representation so they could continue scabbing off of UAW workers.

I am disappointed. I expected to get a lot more support from other union members on this thread. Especially by some union brother and sisters who are finding themselves getting screwed right now. I guess they will never learn?

At one time years ago the teachers unions and the UAW would be showing solidarity with each other. Hell the UAW would be out demonstrating together with them. Don't see that any more.

It makes it tough to be supportive of someone who makes major purchases from someone who is scabbing off of our UAW workers. Real hard.

I just can't picture myself storming the barricades along side of some kook who drove an import car to the riot.

Don