Late 70's and early 80's employment was over 20,000. Early 21st century...2000-2005 employment was 6,000.....today there is only administration left around 2000.
Very strong, unyielding union, very highly paid members = thousands with no jobs and the loss of a manufacturing dynasty to off shore facilities.
We used to proudly brag that with all the "stuff" going off shore you can still buy GE major appliances made in the good old USA....until the unions drove a stake in the heart of the business.
Unions and high cost, plus spineless management = loss of USA manufacturing and the related jobs to offshore. Pick an industry that relies on manufacturing. Check out the employment losses over the last 50 years.
When you find the number of jobs lost is in the millions you may begin to understand the country needs manufacturing based businesses to get the country back on track.
ANother comment about the management of theses companies: they decimated manufacturing in the USA to lower costs, hence increase profitability....right? And the after all the manufacturing is off shore and costs are lower, using automotive as the example this time.....they go bankrupt......unions with selfish high paid leadership in conjunction with selfish high paid management, supported and complimented by a selfish and high do nothing government both local and federal = the problem we have today. There is no mystery. And Bush didn't do it. It has been in the works under every POTUS for the last 50 years.

So when I personally see and hear the alignment of Obama and the unions there is absolutely no good that can come from such affinity.....and there will CERTAINLY be no return of lost or new manufacturing under such a relationship. Only votes!!!!

btk