I read this summary of what is being fought over, and it looks like the union is once again only willing to do too little too late to actually help the US automakers survive.
UAW contract talks at a glance
Here are some of the issues in the contract talks between the United Auto Workers and General Motors Corp. The UAW struck GM at plants across the country Monday but bargainers remained at the table. Once GM and the UAW reach an agreement, the terms will likely be matched by Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC.
LABOR COSTS: Detroit's automakers lost a collective $15 billion last year, and all say they need labor cost parity with their Asian competitors in order to turn consistent profits. GM pays its U.S. workers $73.26 an hour, while Toyota Motor Corp. pays its U.S. workers about $48 per hour, according to an estimate from the U.S. automakers. The UAW says labor is only about 10 percent of the cost of a vehicle.
HEALTH CARE: Among the top issues is the Detroit companies' combined $90.5 billion unfunded retiree health care obligation. GM, Ford and Chrysler want to get that liability off their books. The automakers want to establish a fund — known as a voluntary employee beneficiary association, or VEBA — with a portion of their obligations and let the union be responsible for future benefits. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said Monday that the union isn't striking over the VEBA.
JOB SECURITY: UAW membership has fallen from a high of 1.5 million active members in 1979 to about 576,000 today, and the union already has agreed to massive buyout plans and changes to retiree health care to help the automakers. The union wants GM to promise future production and investment at U.S. plants, which is difficult for GM because the automaker's U.S. market share is in decline.