EDITORIAL: Don't kill the host: Union appears determined to snatch defeat from jaws of Ford victory

Nov 07, 2009 (The Augusta Chronicle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- F | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Bad news-weary Americans might have seen light at the end of the tunnel with a report that Ford Motor Co. returned to profitability in the third quarter.

Whereas the union may only smell blood in the water.

The only one of the Big Three automakers to avoid bankruptcy and a government bailout was buoyed by the Cash for Clunkers program and expense cuts -- and perhaps gained some business from its competitors' uncertainties.

The company said a return to solid profitability was in the cards in 2011.

Unless the unions get their way, that is.

United Auto Worker members have just rejected a new contract that would have helped Ford cut costs and continue its road to health.

That's just insane, to be turning down a deal that would lead to long-term job security and a healthier company, especially considering the fate of Chrysler and GM.

What does it take to win concessions from these unions -- being on life support?

Apparently so, as Chrysler and GM were able to squeeze concessions out of Big Labor on the way to bankruptcy. UAW members won't be happy, apparently, until they get Ford in the same shape.

Unless Ford does get concessions similar to the other companies', it will be competing on an unlevel playing field.

What makes union members believe that America can continue operating as it did in the 1950s, oblivious to global competition and an economy that some say has been in the "Great Recession"? The world has changed, and union compensation will have to change with it -- or whole industries may die.

The U.S. car manufacturing industry was one that was at serious risk in the past year. Now, unions are circling the healthiest of the three companies.

Some say the union members felt company executives weren't giving up enough -- citing the CEO's $17.7 million. Maybe they're right. Then again, maybe the company's performance -- i.e., the only one of the three automakers to stay out of bankruptcy -- warrants some consideration. And, after all, his compensation was down 22 percent over the prior year.

Regardless, union members risk killing the good to get to the perfect.

A lot of folks would be happy with a good-paying job at a company with a future right now.

Sadly, the union kill-the-host mentality may be coming to a business near you: Democrats in Washington want to force employees to vote for or against union formation in full view of union organizers -- putting inestimable peer pressure on workers to say yes to unions.

In addition, the National Mediation Board has recently decided to make it easier to organize unions in the railway and airline industries -- ruling that only a majority of ballots cast is necessary to establish a union, as opposed to a majority of total employees.

If you look at the relative health or dysfunction of our economy's sectors, some of the worst-performing -- government, public education and auto companies -- are the most heavily unionized.

By all means, let's have more of that!

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