Archive for the ‘Union’ Category
Estrada moved from GM to FCA.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jun.15, 2018
UAW former GM VP Cindy Estrada was part of an investigation by federal officials about the potential misuse of union funds. She now heads up FCA.
In one of his first moves, Gary Jones, the newly elected United Auto Workers president, tapped three new vice presidents to handle day-to-day relations and negotiations with Detroit three auto workers, and the choices included a few surprises.
Jones shifted Cindy Estrada from the General Motors Department, the first woman to head what has been long regarded the union’s flagship department, to lead negotiations at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. Department.
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Jones said he selected Estrada for Fiat Chrysler because the work force is younger and more technically savvy then their counterparts at GM and Ford, which have not hired as many new employees as FCA. (more…)
Tags: Estrada moves to FCA, Jones surprises with VP picks, TheDetroitBureau.com., UAW President Gary Jones, UAW VP shuffle, UAW gets new VPs, UAW's three vice presidents, VP surprise picks, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, uaw news
Posted in Automakers, FCA, Ford, GM, Leaders, UAW, Union | No Comments »
Officers get 31% raise after rank-and-file gets dues hike.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jun.15, 2018
Newly elected UAW President Gary Jones acknowledges the crowd at the union's quadrennial meeting.
The United Auto Workers installed a new president this week as Gary Jones replaced Dennis Williams in the corner office at union headquarters in Solidarity House in Detroit.
During its quadrennial Constitutional Convention, the union also installed a new Secretary Treasurer, Ray Curry, and one new vice president Rory Gamble.
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Jones had been part of the UAW’s financial staff at union headquarters during for several years before returning to his home region in the western United States to serve two terms as a regional director and as a member of the union’s executive board before becoming the candidate of the union’s administration caucus, which controls all of the levers of power inside the union. (more…)
Tags: Gary Jones UAW president, TheDetroitBureau.com., UAW new president, UAW quadrennial meeting, auto news, joseph szczesny, new United Auto Workers leadership, thedetroitbureau, uaw news
Posted in Automakers, Business, Leaders, Markets, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | No Comments »
Union pledges safeguards in place to prevent future problems.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jun.12, 2018
UAW President Dennis Williams told members that new safeguards will prevent future attempts to steal from training funds.
The scandal-ridden UAW-Chrysler National Training Center has filed a civil lawsuit against a former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. executive and the widow of United Auto Workers leader in a bid to claw back millions of dollars they embezzled from the NTC during the years.
Dennis Williams, the UAW outgoing president, also took aim at the theft of the joint funds during a speech on the opening day of the unions Constitution Convention.
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“To be clear: those who misallocated or misused training center funds betrayed our trust,” the retiring president told the 1,100 delegates gathered in Detroit “The UAW has zero tolerance for corruption, wrongdoing, at any level of this organization.” (more…)
Tags: Alphons Iacobelli, Jerome Durden, TheDetroitBureau.com., UAW FCA sue for funds, UAW FCA training fund scandal, UAW President Dennis Williams, UAW lawsuit, auto news, general holiefield, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, union news
Posted in Automakers, Business, FCA, Financials, Leaders, Markets, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | 3 Comments »
Union fails to recognize impact of former RFK adviser.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jun.05, 2018
Former adviser to Robert Kennedy and UAW organizer Paul Schrade, who's impact on the union seems to have been overlooked.
When John F. Kennedy first approached Walter Reuther of the United Auto Workers at the 1956 Democratic Party Convention, hoping to win his support for the Vice Presidency, Paul Schrade, as one of UAW President’s top aides, observed the meeting.
However, the vital role of Schrade, who is now 93 and still an activist, in UAW history has been largely overlooked by union during past four decades as the UAW has struggled to maintain its influence both at the bargaining table and in politics.
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But Reuther, who had an eye for talent, according to historian and biographer Nelson Lichtenstein, had recruited Schrade to serve on his staff because the “bright young radical” union activist had already made his mark among UAW’s local officers in Southern California’s booming aerospace industry. (more…)
Tags: Paul Schrade, RFK adviser ignored by UAW, RFK assassination, Schrade shot during RFK assassination, Schrade's role in UAW history, TheDetroitBureau.com., UAW history, UAW overlooks Schrade's role, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advocates, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Markets, Personalities, Recruiting, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
Brown is third exec to plead guilty.
by Joseph Szczesny on May.29, 2018
Former FCA executive Michael Brown is the third FCA executive to plead guilty in the FCA-UAW scandal. (Photo credit: UAW-Chrysler)
Another Fiat Chrysler executive pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the ongoing federal investigation of FCA leaders bribing key United Auto Workers officials to make it easier to gain their cooperation on labor-related issues in which the UAW had a voice.
Michael Brown, the third FCA official charged by the U.S. Depart of Justice, pleaded guilty to misprision of felony because he admitted to providing misleading and incomplete information to a federal grand jury when he asked specific questions of a conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act.
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Brown, 60, a former senior executive on FCA’s labor relations staff and co-director of joint FCA-UAW training center, was accused lying to cover up a conspiracy in which FCA executives making illegal payments to UAW officers and staff members. (more…)
Tags: Brown pleads guilty, FCA news, FCA-UAW bribery scandal, FCA-UAW training fund, Fiat Chrysler executives pleaded guilty, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, uaw news
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Executives, FCA, Markets, Personalities, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
No plans yet for calling an organizing vote at Tesla.
by Joseph Szczesny on May.24, 2018
UAW President Dennis Williams said the union favors President Trump's plan for a 25% tariff on foreign cars.
Despite some major political differences, the United Auto Workers union is fully prepared to support President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies.
Dennis Williams, president of the United Auto Workers, said, “I have said that as long as when he is working in the best interest of working men and women then we will support him. I think it’s time to look at this.”
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Williams comment came on the heels of a Presidential tweet that said autoworkers would like what was coming and promptly threatened to levy a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and started an investigation on whether importing vehicles threatened national security. (more…)
Tags: TheDetroitBureau.com., UAW President Dennis Williams, UAW's Williams, United Auto Workers Union, Williams UAW press conference, Williams supports Trump's tariff on cars, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, uaw news
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Markets, NAFTA, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
GM halts van production while FCA adjusts minivan line.
by Michael Strong on May.09, 2018
Ford shut down the F-150 line at the Kansas City assembly plant due to a parts shortage.
Ford Motor Co. is staring a complete shutdown of production of the company’s best-selling product, the F-150, in the face due to a fire at a supplier facility.
A major fire at Meridian Magnesium Products in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, on May 2 created a shortage of die-cast parts for the F-150 since the incident. General Motors and Fiat Chrysler facilities have also been impacted by the fire and subsequent parts shortages.
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Ford produces the trucks at plants in Missouri and Michigan. Currently the truck production half of Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant is shut down for the week, sending 3,600 workers home due to the parts shortage. (more…)
Tags: FCA minivan production shutdown, FCA news, Ford F-150 plant, Ford F-150 production shutdown, Ford truck shutdown, GM van production shutdown, Meridian Magnesium supplier fire, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford news, gm news, michael strong, supplier fire impacts production, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles, Business, Events, FCA, Ford, GM, Markets, Pickups, Sales, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
UAW-GM leader sends letter explaining outsourcing moves.
by Joseph Szczesny on May.03, 2018
UAW's Cindy Estrada was part of an investigation by federal officials about the potential misuse of union funds.
This story has been updated with new information.
With their credibility damaged by the worst scandal to ever rock the United Auto Workers’ top executive board, union leaders are scrambling to explain changes in the union’s contract with General Motors that will allow the outsourcing of job at GM assembly plants in Lordstown, Ohio, and Orion Township, Michigan.
“You deserve to know the facts about recent outsourcing at Local 5960 Lake Orion and Local 1112 Lordstown,” Cynthia Estrada, the UAW vice president in charge of union’s GM Department, said in a letter to a union members.
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“This was a decision agreed to by the involved local, regional and national leadership. Everyone agrees that this situation sucks. But what would suck even more would be to have GM shut down any of our plants and devastate hundreds of our members’ lives and the communities where those plants exist,” said Estrada, who noted GM car production has slashed by 20%. (more…)
Tags: FCA news, GM outsources plant work, Joseph Szcesny, TheDetroitBureau.com., UAW VP General Holiefiled, UAW leaders, UAW members angry, UAW-FCA funds scandal, UAW-GM Cindy Estrada, auto news, gm news, thedetroitbureau, uaw news
Posted in Automakers, Business, Contract Negotiations, Executives, FCA, Ford, GM, Leaders, Markets, Personalities, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | 1 Comment »
New shift will add 700 jobs in September.
by Michael Strong on Apr.25, 2018
GM is adding 700 jobs at its Spring Hill, Tennessee plant to build more Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia crossovers.
The on-again, off-again third shift at General Motors plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, is on again, this time producing more crossovers as well as an Acadia vehicle for the company’s Australian brand, Holden.
The third shift is expected to begin production in September 2018 and add 700 new jobs. Industry wide, customers are increasingly purchasing crossovers, trucks and SUVs over sedans. Crossovers make up nearly half of the U.S. retail market (48.5%), according to GM.
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Crossovers are booming for GM too as the GMC Acadia and Cadillac XT5 are posting strong results. Acadia retail sales were up more than 15% for the first quarter of 2018 on a year-over-year basis. Total Acadia sales were up 3%, marking the best first quarter ever for Acadia sales for both retail and total. (more…)
Tags: GM Spring Hill plant, GM adds 700 jobs, GM crossovers, GM third shift Tennessee, Holden Acadia, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, crossover news, crossover sales, gm news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Cadillac, GM, GMC, Holden, Markets, Sales, Trends, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | 2 Comments »
Diess targeting “slimmed down company” and focus on new technologies.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.13, 2018
VW's new CEO Herbert Diess wants to both cut costs and shift focus to new technologies.
Volkswagen Group is likely to be a very different company in the coming years, at least if new CEO Herbert Diess has his way, the new chief executive outlining some of the key changes he has in mind during a Friday media briefing that followed a management shake-up the day before.
The one-time BMW board member has been viewed as a change agent since joining VW in 2015, just months before a scheme to rig diesel emissions tests was revealed by the U.S. EPA. Diess has already trimmed what is often described as a bloated workforce, in the process slashing almost $5 billion in costs.
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He is expected to further attack costs at the German giant while also putting more emphasis on new technologies and services. And VW officials suggested they could move to trim assets, though they cautioned that a rumored spin off of their truck business isn’t in the cards – yet. (more…)
Tags: Diess Strategy 2025, Diess changes for VW, Diess making moves, Diess plans for VW, Diess replaces Mueller, TheDetroitBureau.com., Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess, auto news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, volkswagen news
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, EVs, Executives, IG Metall, Luxury Vehicles, Personalities, Pickups, Sports Cars, Super Cars, Union, Volkswagen | Comments Off
