re: #208 reloadingisnotahobby

Yet Fords in better shape than all of them ,right?

Ford might have been lucky in respect to the timing on this. About 5-7 years ago they embarked on a plan to return to profitability after a number of years of serious losses. This plan was paying off significantly when the downturn hit followed by the energy spike last year. Of all the Automakers, Ford was the most flexible and able to respond to rapidly changing conditions. It may not help them. When this is said and done, they will likely have the worst union deal of the three.

Also, the UAW and the UAW retirement fund (or group or whatever they call themselves) are separate entities. The union that represents the current workers is not the group that will own the big chunks of GM and Chrysler, it is the retirement fund that is in that position. A conflict of interest sure, but technically not as direct a one as is generally assumed.