General Motors has announced plans to idle twenty of its North American factories during the first three months of 2009. GM made the announcement on Friday, one day after Senate Republicans blocked a vote to approve $14 billion in loans for GM, Chrysler and Ford. President Bush said his administration is now considering tapping the bank bailout funds to keep GM and Chrysler out of bankruptcy. Ron Gettelfinger, president of the United Autoworkers, blamed Senate Republicans on the collapse of the auto loan package.

Ron Gettelfinger: “We could not accept the effort by the Senate GOP caucus to single out workers and retirees for different treatment and to make them shoulder the entire burden of any restructuring.”

A leaked internal memo indicates Republicans viewed defeating the loans as a “first shot against organized labor.” The memo stated, “This is the Democrats’ first opportunity to pay off organized labor after the election. This is a precursor to card check and other items. Republicans should stand firm and take their first shot against organized labor, instead of taking their first blow from it.”