The big banks have received billions in federal dollars with all too few stings attached. Citigroup alone has received close to $350 billion and like all of Wall Street it wants more handouts. For the auto industry, and particularly auto-workers, it hasn’t been so easy. The Bush administration’s auto bailout calls for a reduction in hourly wages and an end to the UAW’s “jobs bank,” which provides assistance to workers on furlough.

And that’s only the beginning. You may not have heard, but deep in the details, General Motors and Chrysler, as part of the loan deal, agreed to accept a ban on strikes. If their workers go on strike both would be in default of their loans and could be forced into bankruptcy. According to the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News the default is part of the deal GM signed and Chrysler’s loan deal has a similar provision.

Where’s the outrage? You have to look to Canada for that. Speaking about the provision, the President of the Canadian Auto Workers Union, Ken Lewenza said that he was “shocked” to learn the companies had signed such a deal.

"It's just one more indication that the Republican party not only wants to challenge the strength of the (United Auto Workers), they want to take away every tool we may have in our arsenal to defend the interests of our members," Lewenza said in an interview. He says his union won’t accept such a ban.

The UAW, apparently, isn’t a party to the deal and up until now hasn’t threatened a strike. If they do? Well, you can hear the tongue lashings already. Autoworkers hold the industry to ransom.

But think about it: Banks can pay all the lobbyists they want and freeze credit until the Treasury cries Uncle. Working people? The no strike ban is no different from hush money. They have to give up their rights if they want to eat. Can you imagine if they made a no-more lobbying demand of Citigroup?