Quote from achilles28:
"The collapse came after bipartisan talks on the auto rescue broke down over GOP demands that the United Auto Workers union agree to steep wage cuts by 2009 to bring their pay into line with Japanese carmakers."
Labor cost for domestic transplants (Toyota, Honda) is approximately the same as at GM/F. What the GOP is actually asking for - without using the correct language, of course - is drastic reduction in autoworker retiree support.
