I already bought a American Car ! Why should they get my payments and my taxes too.

[Euryleia]

Okay, I don't agree with the bailout but I also don't agree with union bashing. Why is it that the unions are being asked to make pay concessions when the bank and financial institution bailouts demanded no such concessions from their employees? Is it that the union is an easier target than CEO's?

While there is some differences in the cost of health care, where the real difference in wages is from the legacy pension payments. Considering that the US auto industry has been around for 100 years, of course there are going to be greater cost associated with retirement. Below is a list from the Auto Channel about the real payroll costs. As you can see, there isn't much difference in the current average hourly labor cost of UAW workers employed at Ford and those employed by non-U.S. based automakers with plants in the United States.

WAGES: Base hourly wages and cost of living adjustments
UAW: $29
Transplants: $26

WAGE RELATED: Paid vacation, overtime, holidays, night and weekend pay, break time
UAW: $14
Transplants: $9

BENEFITS: Healthcare, training, etc
UAW: $12
Transplants: $11

LEGACY COSTS: Pension and healthcare benefits for retirees
UAW: $16
Transplants: $3

Comparing the wages this way it looks like labor is being made the scapegoat once again.