Most of the layoffs by American auto manufacturers are the results of years of mismanagement and the production of substandard vehicles. Yes, many people are suffering and that sucks, but the American public can't be expected to subsidize American car makers.

They really need to reduce the executives wages by 90%

and this bill was supposed to save or create jobs? why did gm have to fire all those workers just to comply to the stimulus bill?

By Nick Bunkley

New York Times

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Detroit —- General Motors, which must submit a satisfactory restructuring plan to the government next week to keep billions of dollars in loans, said Tuesday that it would lay off 10,000 salaried workers worldwide this year and reduce pay for those who remain by as much as 10 percent.

The announcement comes a week after GM extended more buyout and early retirement offers to its hourly work force and three months after it shed 5,100 salaried jobs, also through buyouts.

This time, however, the cuts are being made through layoffs rather than voluntary programs because the government loan terms prevent GM from using money from its overfunded pension fund to pay for buyout packages, as it has previously.

“There may be some opportunities for people to volunteer, but they’re essentially involuntary,” a GM spokesman, Tom Wilkinson, said. GM, whose sales fell 11 percent globally in 2008, said it plans to cut 3,400 of its 29,500 salaried jobs in the United States, mostly by May 1. Workers who lose their jobs will receive severance payments, benefit contributions and help finding new work. Most would get less money than they would have by leaving the company during last year’s buyouts.

Because GM is using taxpayer money to avoid having to file for bankruptcy protection, it must bring payments to departing workers more in line with what is typical of companies in other industries.

Starting May 1, most salaried workers in the United States will receive what GM characterized as a temporary pay cut. The reductions range from 10 percent for executives to 3 percent to 7 percent for other employees. GM plans to review the pay cuts at the end of this year.

The company said it might also reduce pay for workers in other countries.

GM’s chief executive, Rick Wagoner, has already agreed to work for $1 a year until the company can repay its loans to the government. It has borrowed $9.4 billion so far and is scheduled to receive a third installment of $4 billion as soon as next week.

The latest cuts amount to 14 percent of the 73,000 salaried workers it employs worldwide.

As part of its restructuring, GM has said it needs to eliminate about 31,500 hourly and salaried employees.

Its crosstown rival, Chrysler, which has borrowed $4 billion from the government, also is cutting thousands of jobs. Each of the three Detroit automakers, including the Ford Motor Co., which is not taking federal aid, have eliminated tens of thousands of jobs since 2006.

and this bill was supposed to save or create jobs? why did gm have to fire all those workers just to comply to the stimulus bill?

the layoffs are due to the big three complying to the rules of the stimulus package. and the reason people arent buying american is because of social programs draining the economy of money. nothing is free. some one has to pay for social programs. that someone is the american taxpayer. and if so many people are drawing from the social program coffer and not many are contributing, then we have a reccession of government funds. hence the economy suffers and people lose money and jobs and cant afford to buy an american car. its social welfare that is to blame for this reccession.

the layoffs are due to the big three complying to the rules of the stimulus package. and the reason people arent buying american is because of social programs draining the economy of money. nothing is free. some one has to pay for social programs. that someone is the american taxpayer. and if so many people are drawing from the social program coffer and not many are contributing, then we have a reccession of government funds. hence the economy suffers and people lose money and jobs and cant afford to buy an american car. its social welfare that is to blame for this reccession.

On the plus side:

DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special, Washington

" machinery giant Caterpillar Inc. plans to rescind some of the 22,000 layoffs the firm recently announced — once the stimulus is signed into law."

punish the ceo's for being accomplished professionals? that doesnt seem fair. how bout we cut blue collar workers salaries and get rid of unions. it is the unions, which by the way, demanding $20 an hour for someone to install a door on a car! that is why american automakers are outsourcing jobs to other countries. blame the unions. a mexican worker will install the same door on that same car for $5 an hour.

Now there's some good news.

We have a GM plant in my town. Lets see..GM pays out about 70 dollars an HOUR to its workers in salary and benefits according to thier own statements.

They don't make vehicles that are affordable or reliable.

And, when GM "Lays off" people, they STILL GET 80% OF THEIR SALARIES!. Pay me 30 bucks an hour + medical & dental to put tab A in slot B (a job that I could train a monkey to do)and then let me take off indefinately and still get paid $24/hr. AND, they are eligible for unemployment for the balance. Hell, I'd do it for half that. Most everyone would down here in LA.

IF my GM job is screwing in screw #322 and I dont show up for work, NOBODY ELSE CAN DO IT. Union rules.

GMs layoffs are not because of any money that they received by the government. It's their own doing and that of the unions.