Emailing for an Auto Bailout
Emailing for an Auto Bailout Save Email Print
Posted: 9:17 PM Dec 4, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:17 PM Dec 4, 2008
 Reporter: Randy Yohe
Email Address: Randy.Yohe@wsaz.com
46 comments
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GREENUP COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- Along with the Greenup County Judge-executive, County Attorney Mike Wilson composed not your usual chain e-mail.

The local leaders are urging a few thousand friends to urge their U.S. legislators to bail out the auto industry, and in turn help get 650 laid off auto supplying AK Steelworkers back on the job.

"They throw bailout money at bankers in suits, but the guys in the hard hats and steel toe boots get neglected," Wilson said.

Samantha Salyers is desperate to pass the chain e-mail along, she says her husband Brian's layoff from AK Steel is making the holiday's tough.

"We're just scrimping, being frugal cutting costs where ever we can," Salyers said.

This week AK Steel announced an across the board five percent pay cut for salaried employees beginning January First.

“As to the bailout they did not put any stipulations on bank CEO's, they did on auto workers," said Steelworkers Union President Mike Hewlett.

Hewlett did not want to talk about any possible concessions labor might make to see the auto bailout happen but a laid off steel worker's wife did not hesitate.

“They are underpaid now, so no,” Salyers said.

Salyers hopes the chain-email helps get her husband his job back.

Along with the five percent pay cuts, AK Steel is freezing all salaried employees’ benefits, offering incentives for early retirement.

They have also said they are not ruling out salaried job cuts, if all of the above does not save them enough money.
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Posted by: elmo on Dec 19, 2008 at 09:54 PM
This is great you find everyone wanting to slam unions on this website.....Nice when one part of community falls so will the rest of you! Trickle down baby......glad dumbo gave them the money....least I can say he did one thing right. You may disagree but people that understand know that we let that many jobs go our country would fall around our feet like its trying to do for the past 8 yrs.....hold your guns people they taste good baked over a pallet fire with a side of "good ol' boy stew" .....Dont set on here under fake names and cut Mike Wilson sounds like MR. Wilson knows the importance of major industry and the effects on community. ELMO says.......shut up you jealous people.
Posted by: james on Dec 11, 2008 at 03:45 PM
bailing out the american people is the only way. bail out the car companies all you want, the american people cant afford to buy a new car. so tell me what does it help. btw a car czar that sounds like another country i have heard of.
Posted by: John on Dec 8, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Foreign Auto Companies located in the U.S. receive hundreds of millions in tax breaks. Their workers are paid non-union wages along with no legacy costs. With all the breaks they are receiving, why don't their prices reflect all these benefits. Not just union workers are suffering, but all American consumers and taxpayers are being taken advantage of. The U.S. Auto Industry is not on a level economic field. Not only should the industry receive these loans, maybe they should receive some of the subsidies that our government is so generous with, when it comes to foreign competition.
Posted by: union worker on Dec 8, 2008 at 07:18 AM
Dear anon you sound like a really sharp cookie.But hear is my problem.How can you say that I will never make as much $ as you in a 100 lifetimes ? You should be thankful you don't have to work a real BLUE COLLAR job because you would be in trouble with your attitude.Times are hard for everybody rich and poor so GROW UP little man
Posted by: Ostrich on Dec 8, 2008 at 12:27 AM
hey,Mister Wilson!! how about just worrying about DOING YOUR OWN JOB!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 8, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Wilson speaking of boots and hardhats.....thought he was role playing or something
Posted by: Kay on Dec 8, 2008 at 12:04 AM
To all of you who blame the unions you need to stop and think for a moment. Before unions, wages were so low very few people could afford the necessities of life let alone any luxuries. There were no health care benefits so no one could afford to see a dr if they become ill. Emplyees were forced to work 10 and 12 hour days 6 and 7 days a week. There were no 40 hour a week jobs with 2 days off. The factories were extremely dangerous places to work in because there were no safety regulations because it cost the company money to impliment them, I could go on for days listing all the reasons we should be thankful for unions. What we don't need are CEO's that make 6 figure incomes and 6 firgure bonuses. They may have gone to college but that doesn't make them any better people, deserving of any more privileges than the rest of us. I've been on both sides of the fence. My father was company my husband is union. They both have their faults. We need to get rid of the greed at the top.
Posted by: anon on Dec 7, 2008 at 11:23 PM
This is for union worker and "to anon". Yes, I do have a job. I have advanced degrees that you couldn't get in your wildest dreams. Ialso make more money than you will make in one hundred lifetimes. So I really don't care if they have a job or not as they should have went to college and probably wouldn't be in the situation they are now. Get over it.
Posted by: silly on Dec 7, 2008 at 03:01 PM
all the people who think that they should give every citizen a huge bailout need to take an economics class. if we all get $100,000 checks, then inflation will rise accordingly and it will be worthless.
Posted by: union worker on Dec 7, 2008 at 09:17 AM
anon shame on you.If it was not for the Blue collar worker the united states of america would be a teribble place to live.Do even have a job?
Posted by: to anon Dec.6 on Dec 7, 2008 at 06:24 AM
Who are you? Evidently you aren't a "blue collar" worker. You must be on welfare or you're getting your pockets stuffed with our tax money.
Posted by: citizen on Dec 7, 2008 at 06:19 AM
Why not give every natural born american adult a $100,000 bailout.They could take their taxes out first. We would have enough left to pay our mortgages,buy a car, buy food and other daily essentials. The spending may be enough to get the economy stimulated and it would be cheaper than stuffing all the bigwigs pockets. Their mismanagement is what got us here in the first place.
Posted by: anon on Dec 6, 2008 at 04:01 PM
who cares? I'm sick of hearing about "blue collar" workers! They should have gotten better jobs. I hope they stay laid off!
Posted by: Jack on Dec 6, 2008 at 04:21 AM
The big three goes all year and all of a sudden they are going bankrupt. Couldnt these overpaid CEOs see they were losing money before all of a sudden they need to be bailed out? Their job is to keep the co. in the green. They are like a blind man on the corner dressed in a tuxedo bumming money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: OVERPAID UNDERWORKED on Dec 5, 2008 at 08:01 PM
“They are underpaid now, so no,” Salyers said.---AHEM EXCUUUSE ME. Mrs Salyers you have got to be kidding surly you jest.oK i guess your NOT.Not together upstairs like your missing a whole lot of marbles.
Posted by: happy on Dec 5, 2008 at 07:22 PM
I think they need some help but I think that alot of the problem lies in they union and some of its practices. I also think that the american people who feel that foreign auto makers like Toyota and Nissan who have factories in the U.S. is suppling jobs for americans is also hurting the american auto makers. The jobs they have brought have taken jobs from american workers in other states. The question that they should ask themselves when they say buy american and include the foreign companies is what country gets the majority of they profit? Sorry not the good old USA! For all they import car lover out there remember Pearl Harbor!
Posted by: just a thought on Dec 5, 2008 at 07:17 PM
I personally know someone who works as an internet sales manager for a dealership that sells big 3 cars/trucks you wanna know how much money he makes to sit in his office and play on the computer unless someone emails him about a car/truck? $128,000 a year that's how much. PLUS he gets to drive ANY car/truck/SUV of his chosing without paying for insurance or a car payment...and did I mention those are NEW cars he gets to choose from? You tell me why we need to pay more taxes to bail them out. Let them got bankrupt and then reorganize...the jobs will be back, just not over paid! Doctors make that much money, not car salesmen who need no training or education!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 5, 2008 at 06:52 PM
How about for the $34 billion the big three agree to give every family in america a fuel efficient vehicle.
Posted by: jeez on Dec 5, 2008 at 04:55 PM
haha, underpaid? are you serious? And theyre not having to scrimp by, they are making almost as much with unemployment and sub-pay. These people need to learn the the meaning of "living beyond your means". Making $40,000-$80,000 a year with no education or training required is a privilege that you have had, not an entitlement.
Posted by: Phil on Dec 5, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Why is it the woking man always takes the fall?Get rid of the nuts at the top! !You know the ones,the people with the feet on the desk,playing games on the computer! !YOU ALWAYS TRIM A TREE FROM THE TOP! ! !
Posted by: Ziggy on Dec 5, 2008 at 03:33 PM
My friends, if we can spent $10 billion a month in Iraq, then we can afford to bailout the Big 3. It just isn't the auto industry that goes it's the rest of what is left of the steel industry too. I continue to read where people are saying "I" "me" "I" - no, it is us, we the people who are suffering here. China owns America now thanks to Republican economic policies which West Virginians love so much which leads me to say we the people are partly to blame for most of this economic fallout. However, We best save what we can!
Posted by: sick on Dec 5, 2008 at 03:20 PM
and all that money will go out of the country to mexico and china,what the workers will get is nothing too what gos out.
Posted by: Kyle on Dec 5, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Where is my bailout? I am a college student and have made bad choices regarding loans just like the auto excutives made poor choices
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 5, 2008 at 02:02 PM
I get what everyone is saying about their luxory trips, high bonuses, and high class living. The problem is if they go under it's not hurting any of those people they don't have to work another day and they're set for the rest of their life. It's the working man that's gonna sink because of these people's bad actions. Give them the bailout. It's not like we ever see any of our tax paying money anyways. They don't give any of mine back so I say if it's going to help millions of people to keep they're job do it and let all of the higher up officials work for nothing.
Posted by: Jim on Dec 5, 2008 at 02:02 PM
If the U.S. automakers go bankrupt, the only cars we can buy will be foreign brands. Even tho some of them are made in this country the profits go overseas. That in turn will make our country weaker and other countrys stronger. We must bail out the auto companys.
Posted by: BILL on Dec 5, 2008 at 01:19 PM
I NOTICED THAT THE AUTO MAKERS STATED IF THEY GET THE BAILOUT MONEY THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE VEHICLE'S THAT WERE CONSIDERED "GREEN". THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE ELECTRIC VEHICLES OR VEHICLES THAT RAN OTHER THINGS THAN GAS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, HOW CAN THEY AFFORD THEM AS WELL. TO GO BUY A VEHICLE THAT IS RAN ON ELECTRIC IS OUTRAGEOUS NOW. THE VEHICLES THAT THEY PLAN ON MAKING ARE GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE AS CAN BE. THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO MAKE ONE OF THOSE VEHICLES WILL BE THROUGH THE ROOF. I JUST CANT SEE THAT ANY DIRECTION THEY TAKE WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE VEHICLES ARE TO EXPENSIVE AND OUTRAGEOUSLY PRICED. IF YOU DONT HAVE A GOOD JOB MAKING BIG MONEY ITS HARD TO GO BUY A BRAND NEW VEHICLE OFF A LOT. THEN THE FINANCE RATE IS UNGODLY. IM 34 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER OWNED A NEW VEHICLE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN AVERAGE PAYING JOB AND CANT AFFORD IT AND THE FINANCE RATE AND INSURANCE. I HOPE THIS ALL WORKS OUT FOR THE BEST. PRAY,PRAY
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 5, 2008 at 01:10 PM
“They are underpaid now, so no,” Salyers said. If you feel you're underpaid, you find another line of work. You don't ask for bailouts.
Posted by: Question on Dec 5, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Why do people think giving the Big3 billions of dollars is going to help the economy? If you want to turn this economy around give this money to the unemployeed working class people. They are the ones that spend money on new cars, motorcycles, TV's, clothes, food, homes etc... If people can't afford to buy new cars and trucks you could give the Big3 trillions of $$'s and still not cure the problem
Posted by: Larry on Dec 5, 2008 at 01:01 PM
You can bargain yourself into great salaries and benefits but it hurts you in the long run. When your company cant compete you lose out....unless..the taxpayers feel sorry for you..Probably 65 percent of tax payers fitting the bill do not have the retirement and pay of these workers.
Posted by: NO BAILOUT to ANYONE on Dec 5, 2008 at 12:59 PM
I am SO sick & tired of hearing "bailout" this and bailout that one! NO ONE is "bailing out" the rest of us but they sure expect US to bail out ALL of them! Maybe if the unions had become so violent and demanding in this country so many companies wouldn't have taken so many jobs out of the country. Has anyone ever thought of THAT? They demanded and GOT HUGE raises, HUGE benefits and even HUGE benefits paid by taxpayers AFTER the retire and I'm talking rank & file here not just the CEO's and not just the auto industry. It's ALL big industries with unions. Now that they're all losing or in danger of losing their cushy HIGH paying jobs and free benefits paid for by all the rest of us, ALL of them from the dealers on up are whining bail us out. Personally you can drown in poverty like the rest of us who haven't had your wages, your benefits and retirement plans. Bail yourselves out like the rest of us have to
Posted by: anonymous on Dec 5, 2008 at 12:47 PM
I think they should give every working household a million dollars and with that million dollars they have to payoff all of debts that they owe, buy at least two new cars,and do upgrades or build a new home. This idea would put the million back into the banks,auto company,and the construction company.
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 5, 2008 at 12:40 PM
LETS SEE, I GOT LAID OFF FROM MY JOB 3 WEEKS AGO. I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE. NOBODY IS BAILING ME OUT BUT IF I WAS A MEMBER OF THE UAW I WOULD BE RECIEVING 95 PERCENT OF MY WAGES FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS WITHOUT GETTING OUT OF BED. IS THAT NORMAL? TO TOP THAT OFF THEY MAKE THE WORST CARS IN THE WORLD. THIS IS NOT THE STORY OF GREAT AMERICAN WORKERS BUT OVERPAID, LAZY, AND UNGRATEFUL EMPLOYEES. IF THEY WOULD TAKE CONCESSIONS RIGHT NOW ALL OF THIS COULD BE AVOIDED. FAT CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING.
Posted by: Eli on Dec 5, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Mike Wilson knows as much about bailouts as he does his office,why doesn't he do his job and let the others do theirs
Posted by: me on Dec 5, 2008 at 10:40 AM
the ford ceo said he will work for 1.00 salary a year if they get the bail out. what he didnt tell you was his bonus is several million. so who is getting screwed, we are again. let them go belly up. they will lower the price of the cars then and we can buy new car when that happens..
Posted by: Hmmm... on Dec 5, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Why not let them go bankrupt? Then they will reorganize, pay the line workers a more down to earth salary, b/c the union contract will be void. Then everyone else laid off from their jobs in the steel companies, stamping plants, ect can get back to work manufacturing parts for the auto companies..just a thought.
Posted by: Jim on Dec 5, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Bailing out the Big three will not help us in the end. If you listen to their testimonys they are asking for billions of dollars to lay off workers. In other words they want to use our tax dollars to pay the Sub Pay that unemployment dosent cover in their contracts so the layed off auto worker will get his FULL PAY while sitting at home.I dont know about the rest of you but this sounds ludicrous in my opinion.How on earth is this going to help the economy-NOT.All it will do is prevent the big 3 from filing bankrupsy. Let Them Go Under Its Not Going to Help the Honest Working man to put 1000 auto workers on sub pay while being layed off.They need to Cut CEOs Pay and benifits start building a car and truck we can afford. Do away with all these idiodic power options bring back the roll up window regular locks and for Gods sake GM put the Manual transmission back in your trucks.That should knock off several thousand to start.We have become a lazy nation of gadgets and gizmoes.
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 5, 2008 at 09:34 AM
This company has been around for eons, why not help them out? Its also helping US families. How are the banks and insurance companies any different? There should however be stipulations on how the money can be spent for anybody seeking assistance from this gov. bailout. What really fires me up is when AIG spends huge amounts of money at a posh resort just days after getting bailed out by the gov. These things should not be allowed.
Posted by: Angie on Dec 5, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Mr. Allen..How American are you? Why don't you just go to Japan and live if you think they do a better job! The fact is we have done all of this to ourselves, we all have lived beyond our means. Now it's time to tighten the belt and do what we need to do to get it right.
Posted by: Debbie on Dec 5, 2008 at 08:16 AM
Mike I fear you may be correct, but unless they want an out and out depression with soup lines etc, I think something has to be done. The greedy on Wall Street and in banking also did this to themself in a get rich quick plan.
Posted by: Mike on Dec 5, 2008 at 07:41 AM
I think they shouldnt get a dime make them file bankruptcy. The big three has done it to thereselves, pricing cars so high people cant afford them and all the elaborate raises and bonuses. Just wait and see what happens when they get this bailout, if it happens, they will move production overseas or hire the mexicans to come in and work for hardly nothing then what will you do. I say let them go under they did it to thereselves and its something funny it went from 25 billion to 34 billion what do they not know how much they need or what. The taxpayers shouldnt have to pay for the ignorance of these companies if they would fire the ones that are in there now and get rid of them then hey it probably would go a little smoother.
Posted by: beth on Dec 5, 2008 at 04:42 AM
The goverment needs to take a look @ the fact that its not just the workers in Detroit, but in the steel industry and other industries that makes&supplies parts for the auto industry. Thats even more unemployment nation wide. My concern is that working class citizens are being forgotten in the desions on capital hill.
Posted by: anonymous on Dec 5, 2008 at 04:38 AM
As bad as I would like to see our local steel workers get back on the job, All the money will go to our large cities and will not help here local. [MY OPINION}
Posted by: me on Dec 5, 2008 at 12:32 AM
i'm barely making ends meet. eating one time a day trying to keep my house and truck. if i miss my payments i lose everything. i along with thousands of others do not get a bailout so let the auto makers go bankrupt. then they will have to clean house and quit their high class spending.
Posted by: Allen on Dec 4, 2008 at 11:58 PM
Mr Anonymous,if your business going under would destroy the rest of us than yes I would send an email.But I would put many strings attatched to my bailout of your business.In fact I would fire you and take over your business and appoint a Japanese guy to run it.
Posted by: The Future on Dec 4, 2008 at 11:49 PM
I hope to see the bailout happen, but the 3 companies need major changes in products, hourly, and salary workers. The american public is also part of the problem. With the younger generation, and the all the immigrants that live in the United States buying cars/trucks from foreign companies. No matter how good or bad a vehicle is compared to foreign brand I still buy american brand. The big wigs in Washington are also to blame. Allowing free trade with the rest of the world. All that did was help other countries while we go down the drain. There is hardly a thing that can't be made in the USA. We don't need foreign products. We need to bring back the american companies, force people to work at reasonable wages with quality above any other country, kick out any foreign name company and become a self dependant nation.
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 4, 2008 at 10:38 PM
So if I run my business into the ground is everyone going to email the government to bail me out? Inefficient companies are doomed to bankruptcy; it's the invisible hand of market forces, and encourages innovation and growth. This auto bailout is ridiculous.
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