Senate members opposed to a Congressional bailout of U.S. automakers have blamed the United Automobile Workers union for the legislation's failure Thursday night. The UAW refused to concede to wage reductions in 2009, a move which Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee claims is responsible for the failed negotiations between Senate Republicans, the auto makers, and the UAW. The UAW apparently sought to leave further concessions to 2011, when their current contract expires. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger responded that the G.O.P. caucus was essentially placing the burden of restructuring on workers, rather than considering all of the stakeholders.
See "U.A.W. at Center of Dispute Over Bailout Failure", Micheline Maynard, The New York Times, December 11, 2008