UAW: We can still go on strike against Chrysler, even though our pension fund is now its majority shareholder

posted at 3:56 pm on May 1, 2009 by Patrick Ishmael

You’d think that after crippling Chrysler with the cost of its labor and retirement benefits, the UAW would get a clue and take “going on strike” off the table, particularly when its retirement fund is now the company’s majority owner.

You’d think that at a time when Chrysler is in the midst of a bankruptcy that’s costing tax payers an additional $8 billion, that the UAW would tear asunder any suggestion that they’re anything but 100% committed to making Chrysler a profitable car company.

You’d think think that the mere notion that the UAW would be willing to pit its current workers against their own pension funds would seem, shall we say, friggin’ crazy. 

You’d think.

The United Auto Workers president is seeking to distance his union from direct responsibility for the future of Chrysler LLC, noting 55% of the auto maker will be owned by a retiree health care trust fund and not the union itself….

Mr. Gettelfinger also implied in the Fox interview that the UAW would be able to act independently, even strike if necessary, despite the fact that the union would own a critical piece of the company through the VEBA trust….

Mr. Gettelfinger added that “we have issues and occasionally we’ll have a strike but we settle 98% of our agreements without any kind of an altercation with the employer. It’s in our best interests. It’s in their best interests.”

Good luck with that remaining 2%, Fiat.

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