[quote=SD Realtor]”Those Japanese vehicles that are produced in the US enjoy certain tax, trade and manufacturing advantages that their US counterparts don’t. Combined with the legacy costs of US auto manufacturing, it becomes prohibitively expensive to compete, especially in an industry that is as cutthroat as the auto industry.”
Yeah this statement is something I do not agree with at all. It is quite obvious why there is such a failure for US automakers to compete domestically.
It is a simple 3 letter word.
[/quote]
…especially one that own a golf resort that loses $26 million over the past few years, soon to be subsidized by taxpayers too…No waste there…Move along….Tee-time anyone?
UAW Pisses Away $23m on Golf Course, Retreat
“Black Lake” is a United Auto Workers (UAW) owned retreat near Onaway. The Detroit Free Press‘ Tim Higgins describes the golfing part of the 1000 acre for-profit (in theory) center. “UAW members and retirees get a 20% and 30% discount, respectively, on greens fees, according to the course’s Web site. Golf with a cart on a summer weekend costs $85 for 18 holes. The course offers five tees on nearly every hole to reflect a golfer’s skill. The par 72 course can play from 5,058 yards to 7,030 yards.” Now that it’s been revealed that the entire facility has lost $23m of members’ money over the last five years– not including the $6m up-front cost for the golf course– union officials are busy talking-up the education side of the endeavor. “The UAW family education center is an integral part of our union. It provides very important training and education activities for our members,” UAW spinmesiter Roger Kerson told the Freep, who added that “he declined to talk about specific operation numbers or plans for the future.” You want irony? “UBE’s management of the education center has generated revenue of about $30 million over the past five years — and net losses of $20.5 million. The operations were hit hard last year by a $5.9-million payment to an employee pension fund. And from 2003 to 2007, revenue at the education center dropped by 18%.” [NB: Look for more stories of Detroit’s perk pork in the run-up to the federal bailout.]
While congress made a huge stink about auto execs and their private jets, they didn’t do their research on the UAW’s $6.4 million golf course retreat in Michigan.
While the Carpocalypse looms over the heads of many in the Detroit area and beyond, the UAW apparently isn’t feeling the same kind of heat. While companies are struggling to survive and cutting costs wherever possible, the UAW is spending millions to maintain their golf resort in Black Lake, Michigan.
The $6.4 million golf course is merely a small piece of the larger $33 million retreat center that is costing the UAW millions of dollars every year, totaling $23 million in the last five years. According to the UAW, the Reuther Family Education Center hosts important seminars and classes on leadership and political action, but we’re guessing they’re spending a lot of time on that finely trimmed grass on the 5th tee.
According to Justin Wilson of the Center for Union Facts, a union “watchdog group” (we’re not entirely certain where funding for such a group comes from, but we’re assuming it’s from some sort of biased source):
“It’s their members’ money that they’re spending on this thing. The union has bigger issues at hand than managing a golf course.”
The attached golf course at the Reuther Family Education Center was designed in 2000 by famous course architect Rees Jones for a paltry $6 million. UAW members receive a 20% discount off of the normal green fee of $85, though we don’t think many of them will have the money to play golf in the upcoming season.
