Ron Gettelfinger, president of the United Auto Workers union, normally shuns the limelight. But these are not normal times for the union. Mr Gettelfinger now pops up regularly in media interviews, press conferences and, last week, at congressional hearings with the chief executives of the three Detroit-based carmakers.

The UAW chief is one of the most outspoken of those demanding $25bn in emergency funding that cash-strapped General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler are seeking from Washington to prevent them sinking into bankruptcy.