The collapse of the Big Three automakers would be devastating:

-- In addition to the hundreds of thousands of Big Three workers who would lose their jobs, up to 3 million other workers could see their jobs disappear at dealers, suppliers of components and materials, and other businesses that depend on the auto industry.

-- Almost 1 million retirees and their spouses and dependents could suffer cuts in their pension benefits and the loss of health insurance coverage.

-- The federal pension guarantee program could be saddled with enormous liabilities, jeopardizing its ability to protect benefits for millions of other workers.

-- Because of the importance of the auto industry to our entire economy, the collapse of the Big Three auto companies would aggravate the current recession, creating further hardships for working families and communities across the United States.

-- Revenues to federal, state and local governments would be sharply reduced, forcing drastic cuts in vital social services at the time they are most needed.

Congress can prevent these devastating consequences. The federal government has already stepped forward to provide assistance to Wall Street and financial institutions. It is now time for Congress to help Main Street by providing urgently needed help for the auto companies.

You have probably seen or heard some commentators who are trying to blame you and your fellow UAW members for the current situation of the companies by attacking our "overly rich" wages and benefits. We need to rebut these false charges, and make it clear that active and retired UAW members have already made enormous sacrifices in the 2005 and 2007 collective bargaining agreements.

Other commentators have tried to blame the Big Three for their current situation by saying it is attributable to their insistence on producing "gas guzzling" vehicles. This overlooks the major progress the companies are making in bringing forward more fuel efficient vehicles. More importantly, it ignores the fact that the current crisis is due to the huge drop in overall auto sales that has been caused by the larger credit and economic crises that have engulfed our entire nation.

Auto sales in October were a mere 10.8 million on an annualized basis, the lowest level in 25 years. All automakers reported steep declines in their sales. The problem is not that consumers don't want to buy the quality products that GM, Ford and Chrysler are making. The problem is that consumers have stopped buying vehicles from any companies.