GM workers on strike...to save jobs?

Union workers at all General Motors plants and facilities have gone on strike, not over money or benefits but over job security.

This hits GM while it's down, unfortunately. I think, like in years past, GM will have to acquiesce to an extent in order to stay viable.

UAW says strike about saving jobs - Yahoo! News

GM wants the trust, called a Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association, or VEBA, so it can move much of its $51 billion in unfunded retiree health care liabilities off the books, potentially raising the stock price and credit ratings. It's all part of the company's quest to cut or eliminate about a $25-per-hour labor cost disparity with its Japanese competitors...

GM wants to move that horrible burden, health care liabilities, off the books, so that it can reap the rewards of a higher stock price. Not sure how this will help, or hinder, the bread-and-butter skilled laborers, but it will surely enrich the executives.

The striking workers will receive $200 a week plus medical benefits from the UAW's strike fund. The union had more than $800 million in that fund as of last November, according to the UAW's Web site. A fund of that size would last about a year at $200 a week for 73,000 striking workers.

This is somewhat unbelievable. I have to hand it to the striking workers: They have balls. Or unlimited funds.

Michael Moore and wannabe president Fred "Flintstone" Thompson spar

My money is on Mike Moore, simply because he has a camera. He can dog Thompson like he did Roger Smith from his first film, Roger and Me, about his quest to get an interview with General Motor's CEO about closing down plants in Moore's home state, Michigan (Flint, to be specific).

While I think Moore is "out there," I do think he provokes people in a humorous way. And I'd pay money to see him do it again to the politicos and wannabes.

Thompson spars with Michael Moore - Politics - MSNBC.com

General Motors to buy Chrysler from Benz?

This is a pie-in-the-sky dream that might just happen. But only in an idiot-filled business like auto manufacturing. Benz' purchase of Chrysler only a few years ago reminds me of "The Germans" buying out Monty Burns' nuclear power plant on the Simpsons.

They paid a LOT, couldn't turn it around, and sold it for next to nothing. Same here. Way to go, Daimler!

Big 3 automakers to become Big 2?

This is purely speculation on my part. I have no basis for arriving at the conclusion, other than that it would make a tasty story. Well, at least an interesting story.

With all the talk of Ford and GM in the dumps, is it possible that the two biggest American automakers might join forces (i.e., merge) to compete with their Japanese and European counterparts? The resulting company would be enormous. But there would be a lot to gain in terms of synergy, efficiency, and capital.

Much of the overlapping manufacturing capacity could be sold off to, guess who, the competition. Ford-GM would have much more bargaining clout when it comes to negotiation of contracts with the UAW. America's best and brightest managers could be recruited and/or retained to build a better car and brand. Many of the non-core businesses could be sold off. It looks like a win-win to me.