[Oracle]

In case you're wondering this is the main concern for UAW:

http://www.uaw.org/news/newsarticle.cfm?ArtId=514

UAW says meetings with Pelosi and Reid are constructive; calls for immediate steps to aid auto industry

WASHINGTON -- UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said that meetings he and the CEOs of Chrysler, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors had today with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid were "constructive discussions about the state of the auto industry and the steps government can take to help companies, workers and retirees."

"We want to thank Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid for putting this issue at the top of the legislative agenda," said Gettelfinger. "There is an urgent need for federal assistance -- not just for our members, but for millions of workers and retirees and for thousands of companies who depend on the auto industry for jobs, retirement benefits and revenue."

With the U.S. economy already in a severe downturn, said Gettelfinger, "it is essential that the federal government act to prevent further damage to a critical industry which supports billions of dollars worth of economic activity in cities and towns all across the country."

"The U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve can help immediately," said Gettelfinger, "by taking steps to provide liquidity to auto manufacturers so they can get through the difficulties caused by an across-the-board decline in auto sales."

The sales drop, said Gettelfinger, which has affected all companies in the industry, "is driven by consumer reaction to tough economic times and a lack of affordable credit for big-ticket purchases."

Congress should also act immediately, said Gettelfinger, to provide an additional $25 billion in loans so that auto companies can meet their health care obligations to more than 780,000 retirees and dependents.

"Strategic assistance to a critical manufacturing industry makes sense for U.S. taxpayers," said Gettelfinger. "The alternative is lost jobs, business failures and a shortfall in pension and health care obligations -- all of which will cost far more in the future than the assistance we are requesting now.

"We look forward to meeting in the near future with President-elect Barack Obama to discuss these same issues," said Gettelfinger. "He has been a leader in the U.S. Senate in working to provide assistance to the auto industry and U.S. manufacturing. We share his vision of a revitalized U.S. economy based on good jobs and good wages -- and timely assistance to the U.S. auto industry is a critical first step in achieving these goals."