Hmm, GM is doing well in Europe? What could possibly be the mitigating factor? Perhaps it's the fact that most European countries have universal health care and the company doesn't have to pay for it. Also, those GM plants in Europe are relatively new on the scene. The list of retired workers who have pensions and retirement costs assessed to the company is considerably shorter than the rolls here in the US.

And Toyota plants here. Could it just be that their retirement list is still rather empty since their workforce is relatively young? Could it also be that the plants are new and built more efficient?

I don't give the unions here a free pass. There's blame to go around on all sides but over the last decade those unions have lost a tremendous amount of clout and have been on the defensive more than anything, often times giving back during negotiations. I'm pretty sure you can't singly hold them accountable for the problems.

Art