More on UAW woes in the March 31 issue of Japan Times: LABOR LOSES OUT: Unions get no traction at Japanese U.S. carmakers

"A union has a difficult time convincing others to join when workers already get what they perceive to be really good benefits and pay," said Steven Szakaly, an economist with the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Randy Bagby, another worker at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant about 100 km northwest of Indianapolis, agreed. He said the plant offers workers vision and health benefits similar to what friends in unionized factories receive.

"If they're giving us the benefits and pay that's comparable to what the UAW plants give, why would we want them in there messing with what we already have?"

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Last year, workers at the Toyota Motor Corp. plant in Georgetown, Ky., received more in pay and bonuses than UAW members averaged at domestic automaker factories for the first time, according to a recent Detroit Free Press analysis.

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The UAW has tried at least three times to organize the workers at the Lafayette Subaru factory, which will start producing Camrys in a partnership with Toyota next month. Employee Ed Downham said he hopes the union keeps trying.

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But coworker Durham doesn't think a union will organize anytime soon.

"From what I've seen, they're never going to get their feet in the door," he said. "People are saying, 'We don't have it so bad.' "

Over at TomPaine.com, Senior Editor Alec Dubro isn’t buying any of that for one moment. Commenting on the Japan Times article, Mr. Dubro – a staunch supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act – asks: "But how do we know that indifference is not masking fear?"

The folks at EmployerReport.com suggest that maybe employees of  the Japanese auto makers should be afraid.