Norte-americanos: Mais de metade perdeu emprego, salário e poder de compra

A maioria dos trabalhadores norte-americanos afirma que ficou sem emprego, viu o seu rendimento baixar ou foi obrigado a aceitar redução de horário ou trabalho a tempo parcial.

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publicado às 00:07

Chrysler – o grande embuste

Texto de Martha Grevatt

     Numa atmosfera de medo e intimidação, os trabalhadores das diferentes fábricas da Chrysler representados pelo sindicato United Auto Workers (UAW) votaram quatro contra um, em 29 de Abril, a favor da aceitação de grandes concessões. Se não votassem, disseram-lhes, a empresa declararia bancarrota. Um voto favorável significaria a segurança de emprego e a protecção das pensões através de uma nova aliança com a companhia automobilística italiana Fiat.

Menos de 24 horas depois da contagem dos votos, a Chrysler atraiçoou os trabalhadores e apresentou o seu pedido de bancarrota ao abrigo do Art.º 11. A 4 de Maio, quase todos os trabalhadores da Chrysler nos EUA foram colocados em regime de lay-off, à espera que a «cirurgia» da bancarrota transforme a Chrysler LLC numa mais ajustada e cruel «New (Nova) Chrysler».

Depois de ter dito aos trabalhadores que o seu sacrifício garantiria a segurança de emprego, a Chrysler informou o juiz da bancarrota em Nova Iorque, Arthur J. Gonzáles, da intenção de encerrar oito das suas fábricas até final de 2010. Já se sabia do plano para encerrar quatro delas, mas os trabalhadores das fábricas de Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri e Ohio foram apanhados de surpresa por estas unidades estarem agora classificadas como «maus activos» e serem postas à venda. Cerca de 88 por cento dos efectivos da fábrica de Twinsburg (TSP), no Ohio, votou a favor das concessões. Nem sequer imaginavam o que estava para lhes suceder.

Ler Texto Integral

publicado às 00:06

Tom Paxton: I'm Changing My Name To Fannie Mae

I AM CHANGING MY NAME TO FANNIE MAE

Everybody and his uncle is in debt,
And the bankers and the brokers are upset.
Goldman Sachs's, Merrill Lynch's
Saw themselves as lead-pipe cinches,
Now they've landed in the biggest screw-up yet.
Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns and all their kind
Have turned out to be the blind leading the blind.
They are clearly the nit-wittest
In survival of the fittest––
Let me modestly say what I have in mind

Chorus:
I am changing my name to Fannie Mae;
I am changing it to AIG.
On this bail-out I am betting;
Just a piece of what they're getting,
Would be perfectly acceptable to me.
I am changing my name to Freddie Mac;
I am leaving for that great receiving line.
I'll be waiting when they hand out
Seven hundred million grand out––
That's when I'll get mine.

Since the first amphibian crawled out of the slime,
We've been struggling in an unrelenting climb.
We were hardly up and walking
Before money started talking
And it said that failure was the only crime.
If you really screwed things up, then you were through;
Now––surprise!––there is a different point of view.
All that crazy rooty-tootin'
And that golden parachutin'
Means that someone's making millions––just not you! (to chorus)

Tom Paxton

Para ver e ouvir Tom Paxton a cantar «I'm Changing My Name to Fannie Mae» clicar AQUI

Para ver e ouvir Arlo Guthrie a cantar «I'm Changing My Name to Fannie Mae» de Tom Paxton clicar AQUI  

• Site oficial de Tom Paxton 

• Site oficial de Arlo Guthrie

adaptado de um e-mail enviado pelo Jorge

publicado às 12:07

Arlo Guthrie canta Tom Paxton: «I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler»

I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler

Oh the price of gold is rising out of sight
And the dollar is in sorry shape tonight
What the dollar used to get us
Now won't buy a head of lettuce
No the economic forecast isn't right
But amidst the clouds I spot a shining ray

I can even glimpse a new and better way
And I've demised a plan of action
Worked it down to the last fraction
And I'm going into action here today

CHORUS:
I am changing my name to Chrysler
I am going down to Washington D.C.
I will tell some power broker
What they did for Iacocca
Will be perfectly acceptable to me
I am changing my name to Chrysler
I am headed for that great receiving line
So when they hand a million grand out
I'll be standing with my hand out
Yes sire I'll get mine

When my creditors are screaming for their dough
I'll be proud to tell them all where they can all go
They won't have to scream and holler
They'll be paid to the last dollar
Where the endless streams of money seem to flow
I'll be glad to tell them what they can do
It's a matter of a simple form or two
It's not just renumeration it's a liberal education
Ain't you kind of glad that I'm in debt to you

CHORUS

Since the first amphibians crawled out of the slime
We've been struggling in an unrelenting climb
We were hardly up and walking before money started talking
And it's sad that failure is an awful crime
Well it's been that way for a millenium or two
But now it seems that there's a different point of view
If you're a corporate titanic and your failure is gigantic
Down to congress there's a safety net for you

CHORUS                    

Tom Paxton

Para ver e ouvir Arlo Guthrie a cantar «I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler» de Tom Paxton clicar AQUI  

• Site oficial de Tom Paxton 

• Site oficial de Arlo Guthrie

adaptado de um e-mail enviado pelo Jorge

Notícias AQUI

publicado às 12:06