Featured Trump tariffs put the US auto industry in disarray

About 1/3d of my retirement comes from pensions that unions forced on GE and Boeing. Not a union member but part of their ‘union avoidance’ the pensions were part of my compensation at the time.

Bob Wilson

 

Ah.....unions and subsidies.
The bane of farmers and factory workers alike.
However (COMMA!) as much as I loathe unions they're only one leg in this stool - and people in the US do not appreciate the fact that ROK autoworkers are very highly unionized - and their government (especially at the retail level) is "somewhat" corrupt.
They're also not (usually) this cosmically stupid - meaning the ROKs - not the unions.
I've driven by the plant on numerous occasions, and I'm a yuge fan of south central Kentucky....a beautiful part of that Commonwealth.

Unusually (especially for 'public radio') they actually nailed the root cause.
"In late 2025, Ford and SK On dissolved their partnership, citing federal policy changes that reduced EV incentives and weakened EV demand[.]"

The Koreans are probably the best automakers (and ship builders) on the planet for the time being. The ChiComms are catching up rapidly since they have engineering and development um...... 'shortcuts' that they're exploiting.
They have far fewer unions in China so it will be interesting to see how all that plays out.

Two FORMERLY great companies....
I'm a 27-year "union survivor" myself.

Unions are like AIDS.
People do not die directly from HIV or AIDS itself. Instead, the virus destroys the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to "opportunistic infections" and cancers.
Unions either promote, or outright mandate unfunded (or underfunded) liabilities that further weaken industries, already beleaguered by bloated workforces and systemic inefficiencies.

 

......just for reference .......these battery plants are going great and booming in the US.....they are not unionized and SK of course is 50% partners in one of them....... why can they do just fine in the current US business climate?





Toyota Battery Plant:
Community and Future Growth
"Beyond manufacturing, the site includes amenities like childcare, a medical clinic, pharmacy, and fitness center for employees Fox Business. Toyota’s leadership has emphasized that this is just the start, with plans to grow capacity and diversify battery technologies to meet its 70% electrified target by 2030 Electrek.

In short, Toyota’s North Carolina battery plant is thriving as a cornerstone of its U.S. electrification push, delivering jobs, supporting hybrid and EV production, and positioning the company for long-term growth in the American market."

Hyundai Battery Plant:
Outlook
"With production ramping up and supply chain integration in place, the Hyundai battery plant in Georgia is poised to deliver on its role in Hyundai’s global EV ambitions. The combination of domestic manufacturing, strategic partnerships, and rapid recovery from the 2025 disruption positions it for sustained growth in the coming years."

 

Sorry; Unions neither promote or mandated unfunded and/or underfunded liabilities. It's the responsibilities of management to balance the books and it's management that signed the labor contract to begin with. Bloated work-forces and systemic inefficiencies also sounds like a management level issue - NOT a rank and file issue, worker bees really don't have a say; other than to follow written work rules.

This is from someone whom worked in that system for 30+ years and now enjoys my pension. I weep for the young, who think that a 401K will carry them through their retirement and don't understand the differences between a pension and 401K. Trump is correct when he stated that he loves his dumb, uneducated base and don't realize that a tariff is hitting them in the pocketbook - NOT another country. An unauthorized tax on the US population that wasn't voted for.

YMMV

 

Sorry; Unions neither promote or mandated unfunded and/or underfunded liabilities. It's the responsibilities of management to balance the books and it's management that signed the labor contract to begin with. Bloated work-forces and systemic inefficiencies also sounds like a management level issue - NOT a rank and file issue, worker bees really don't have a say; other than to follow written work rules.

This is from someone whom worked in that system for 30+ years and now enjoys my pension. I weep for the young, who think that a 401K will carry them through their retirement and don't understand the differences between a pension and 401K. Trump is correct when he stated that he loves his dumb, uneducated base and don't realize that a tariff is hitting them in the pocketbook - NOT another country. An unauthorized tax on the US population that wasn't voted for.

YMMV