An analysis
by Heritage's James Sherk demonstrates that United Auto Workers
laborers cost the big three automakers over $70 per hour in
salary plus benefits. With compensation like this, it's no
surprise that American car companies cannot be competitive with
their foreign competitors, and as long as such wage rates
persist, no bailout (or series of bailouts) will alter the long
term trajectory of this domestic industry.
I find this especially relevant given that Democrats are eager to
pass card check legislation, which would deny workers a secret
vote on whether to unionize, thus allowing big labor to rapidly
unionize through intimidation. If they have their way, the entire
U.S. economy would function about as efficiently as the auto
industry.