UAW admission of self-defeat

I am watching the House Finance Services Committee, and just now the UAW President, speaking on behalf of the Detroit bailout, said something to the effect of:

"I made a promise to our union workers that they wouldn't have to pay for their health care.... it was the hardest decision I've had to make to change that to help out auto companies."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102002078.html

Hmmm. I wonder why Detroit is having such a hard time....
I'm all for more socialized healthcare, but only if it's done correctly. GM etc. are not government agencies - they are far more subject to negative turn in the economy and don't have access to a printing press. So by putting the entire cost of retiree health care etc. on their backs was never smart for automakers or UAW employees in the long-run. Union power got out of control in many parts of the Midwest thanks to UAW. Changes came too late. And now automakers, the UAW, and employees are paying the price in part because automakers refused to follow Honda, Toyota etc. and not let the Union walk all over them.