Maybe the UAW needs to rethink its own financial house!

[GSPowner]

Autoworkers Union Keeps $6 Million Golf Course for Members at $33 Million Lakeside Retreat

The United Auto Workers may be out of the hole now that President Bush has approved a $17 billion bailout of the U.S. auto industry, but the union isn't out of the bunker just yet.

Even as the industry struggles with massive losses, the UAW brass continue to own and operate a $33 million lakeside retreat in Michigan, complete with a $6.4 million designer golf course. And it's costing them millions each year.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,472304,00.html

[NWHarkness]

1. Anti-union propaganda

I've been to seminars at the Reuther Center. It gets a lot of use by rank and file members. This Fox article is another attempt to spin atale about the fat cat union bosses exploiting the members. And it's just bull.

[ashling]

2. Maybe you need to rethink where you get your propaganda

Bye Bye

[MichiganVote]

3. Fox news. Now there's a worthy news source. Not.

[GSPowner]

4. Maybe you should stop drinking the Koolaid

I'm an equal opportunity critic...remove the plank out of your own eye before point out the splinter in your friend's.

http://theunionnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/uaw-squanders-dues-on-golf-resort.html
United Auto Workers' golf course losing millions

Down a lonely country road far from the interstate hangs a banner at the UAW's golf course: "Public welcome." But a review of the golf course and adjacent education center's financial statements indicate that not enough people have been visiting.

The UAW International's golf course and education center operations on 1,000 acres near Onaway have together lost $23 million over the past five years, independent audits obtained by the Free Press show. Both are run as for-profit corporations, according to paperwork filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, and the UAW has been propping them up with loans.

"There's a lot of debate over what to do," said Arthur Wheaton, a union expert from Cornell University. "They've been having trouble there trying to get enough people to go through there to justify the expense," he added.

The facilities are reminders of another time when the autoworkers' union was flush with dues-paying members. But now the U.S. auto industry is losing money, the UAW is losing members and some people are questioning the need to keep the money-losing operations.

http://www.dcexaminer.com/opinion/Should_UAW_Sell_its_Championship_Golf_Course.html
Make UAW Sell its Championship Golf Course Before a Bailout
What do UAW executives and workers do to relax? They play golf at the union’s highly touted championship caliber Black Lake Golf Club, designed by Rees Jones. The UAW golf club is in secluded Onaway, MI, as part of the union’s Walter and Mary Reuther Family Education Center. Also part of Black Lake are a learning center, a practice facility with practice bunkers, chipping and putting greens, and a small, nine-hole par-three Little Course.
Golf Digest named Black Lake as one of top “upscale public courses.” And Michigan Golf described the course as a “classic” that includes “wide, well-groomed fairways provide ample room for big hitters.” But some big hitters get special privileges at Black Lake. Tee times can be reserved up to two weeks in advance by UAW execs, compared to only three days for non-UAW duffers. Cost to play Black Lake is $95 per round.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/12/the_uaws_gorgeous_golf_course.html
The UAW's gorgeous golf course
Thomas Lifson
Big 3 execs may have their corporate jets, but the UAW has its own lovely golf course, the championship caliber Black Lake Golf Club, designed by Rees Jones. It's all a part of the Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center the union maintains, and education, as everyone knows is a good thing, not a luxury. The Examiner and Michelle Malkin both feature stories on the facility, which, it turns out, is losing money for the union. Lots of money: $23 million in just the last 5 years. Luxury does have its price.

[Luminous Animal]

10. You couldn't be anymore blatent

as a anti-union propagandist.



As an aside, from the article:
""It's funny that they call it an education center — it's a resort," said Wilson. "If I was a union member, I would prefer that they rented out a room at the Ramada Inn.""


As if union members don't deserve anything better.

[GSPowner]

15. Funny you make an assumption with out any evidence

union member of one of the largest airlines

[Muttocracy]

5. I want to see all golf courses converted to affordable housing or wildlife preserves but...

is Ford getting rid of this one?
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=54
http://www.tpcmichigan.com/

[GSPowner]

6. They should...

They are in no financial condition to be spending money on nonsense like this.

[Trajan]

12. Again: explain the financial condition of the union ....

Show real evidence that the union is in poor financial condition ...

No anecdotes from Uncle Wilbur at the gas station is going to do: Show REAL numbers ....

[Brucie Kibbutz]

13. Go crawl back under your boss's desk, suckass.

[GSPowner]

17. Your comments are base and provides no value

I am simply pointing out the hypocracy of our Union Leaders...All Animals are equal, Some are more equal.

[madrchsod]

7. enjoy your short stay here at du

i`m sure you`ll find another site more to your way of thinking.....

[GSPowner]

8. nah...I call 'em how I see me....a Spade a Spade

[Omaha Steve]

14. Public always welcome

Doesn't sound exclusive to me.

[GSPowner]

16. its not...but it has lost more than $25M...they should dump it and use the

money to support us instead

[Omaha Steve]

9. How much will they get on a $ looser in a down market?

It wouldn't cover the IOU's to the pension fund as I understand it.

Thoughts?

[GSPowner]

18. Unions are not in the business of running a business

It is pretty clear they do not understand how and can not as proved by the loses exceeding $25M. They need to sell as soon as they can break even and use the money to support unions...not playing golf.

[Trajan]

11. While I agree it is improper for Union Leadership to luxuriate like this ...

And I can see no reason why UAW leaders could not just pay to go to resorts, like the rest of their membership, this really doesn't indicate, specifically, that the UAW is insolvent or unable to manage their debts and financial affairs ...

Furthermore: Using links to FAUX News to attempt to impugn unions in general is not viewed kindly here ....

I appreciate keeping unions from spending union dues on luxury excursions and stuff like this: But we, on the whole, SUPPORT unions in our Democratic-Liberal-Progressive world ....

Do you have a problem with the resort, or with the union ?

Do you hate unions ?

Please explain .... Express your feelings ....

[GSPowner]

19. I have no problmes in Union...they have their purpose however

they are not capable of running this golf course as proven by the $25M+ in losses. They need to use their money wisely and this is not proving out a smart move. That is $25M+ that could have supported the memebs during this down turn.