UAW plays large role in U.S. auto decline
Will history repeat? I spent 34 years in automotive quality management in the U.S., Canada and Mexico including VW when they were in Pennsylvania for eight years.
VW moved into a closed Chrysler plant. Japan started selling cars and trucks in the U.S. The American manufactures could not compete for price, gas mileage or quality.
The UAW that is trying to get into VW kept striking for higher wages and benefits, driving up prices until American cars were no longer competitive. The foreign manufacturers began to build their cars here but not in Detroit. Take a drive through Detroit today and see all the boarded up or burned down homes and businesses. Some of the areas are like a ghost town. I know I would never want to move back.
That could be Chattanooga someday when China starts selling cars and trucks here. I remember hearing at many U.S. plants that the Japanese cars are no competition for us. Some of those plants are closed today. There are many reasons for the decline of the American automotive business. The UAW is right near or on the top.
NORMAN LOWE