In an November 19 Wall Street Journal Op Ed article, Rick Wagoner bemoaned the state of his auto industry and stressed the importance of maintaining a strong manufacturing base in America. He talked about how the automotive industry is a vital engine of economic growth and a foundation for economic stability. He discussed the how critical the auto industry was for America to compete in the global marketplace of the 21st century.
I don't think that anyone in America disagrees with Ricks statements. Except perhaps Rick himself. For all of Rick's wonderful words in 2008, his actions from 2000 to 2008 have systematically destroyed the auto industry and the American Dream for hundreds of thousands of Americans.
In his article Rick states at General Motors, we have been responding to fierce competition here and abroad by transforming our business. Over the past decade, we have taken tough actions to cut costs. He even goes so far to equate transforming the business with eliminating the very American Manufacturing base he says is so important. Since 2000, we have reduced our U.S. hourly workforce by 52%, from 133,000 to 64,000, through buyouts and other programs. During the same period, we have cut our U.S. salaried employment from 44,000 to fewer than 30,000, and reduced our U.S. executive ranks by 45%.
Rick's goal is to reduce the total work force from 94,000 to 65,000 by 2012. So I want to make sure that I get this right Rick is asking for $20 Billion from the taxpayers to cut an additional 30,000 jobs. That's $666,000 for each employee that he eliminates. That is a raw deal for the employees of GM and the American people. We all deserve better.
I don't think that anyone in America disagrees with Ricks statements. Except perhaps Rick himself. For all of Rick's wonderful words in 2008, his actions from 2000 to 2008 have systematically destroyed the auto industry and the American Dream for hundreds of thousands of Americans.
In his article Rick states at General Motors, we have been responding to fierce competition here and abroad by transforming our business. Over the past decade, we have taken tough actions to cut costs. He even goes so far to equate transforming the business with eliminating the very American Manufacturing base he says is so important. Since 2000, we have reduced our U.S. hourly workforce by 52%, from 133,000 to 64,000, through buyouts and other programs. During the same period, we have cut our U.S. salaried employment from 44,000 to fewer than 30,000, and reduced our U.S. executive ranks by 45%.
Rick's goal is to reduce the total work force from 94,000 to 65,000 by 2012. So I want to make sure that I get this right Rick is asking for $20 Billion from the taxpayers to cut an additional 30,000 jobs. That's $666,000 for each employee that he eliminates. That is a raw deal for the employees of GM and the American people. We all deserve better.
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