Archive for the ‘Union’ Category
Local believes bribery scandal may have influence transfer decision.
by Joseph Szczesny on Feb.19, 2019
Members of UAW Local 961 filed suit to prevent the transfer of FCA's axle plant in Marysville, Michigan, to supplier ZF.
Members of United Auto Workers Union Local 961 in suburban Detroit have sued both the UAW International and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to prevent the automaker from transferring an axle plant in Marysville, Michigan, to the giant German automotive supplier ZF.
The lawsuit asks a federal judge to halt the transition of the plant, which makes axles for the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram pickup, and give the Local the opportunity to determine if any of the corruption cases in which both UAW and FCA officials have plead guilty to violations of federal labor law might have tainted the transaction.
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So far, five UAW officials and three FCA employees, including former FCA vice president of labor relations Alphons Iacobelli, have plead guilty in the federal investigation that originally began nearly several months before the original indictment was made public in 2017. (more…)
Tags: FCA news, FCA sued over plant transfer, TheDetroitBureau.com., UAW Local 961, UAW members sue to half plant transfer, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, uaw news, union local sues FCA and UAW, union local sues to stop transfer
Posted in Automakers, Business, Executives, FCA, Lawsuits/Legal, Leaders, Markets, Personalities, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | No Comments »
Supplier strikes along Mexico-U.S. border causing parts shortage.
by Joseph Szczesny on Feb.15, 2019
Fiat Chrysler's Windsor, Ontario, plant that builds the company's minivans will be shut down a week earlier than expected due to a parts shortage.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. is shutdown the company’s minivan plant in Windsor, Ontario, the week of Feb. 18, due to a parts shortage created by a problem with what was described as an “external” supplier.
“FCA is re-timing the down week at the Windsor Assembly Plant from the week of Feb. 25 to the week of Feb. 18. Normal production schedules are expected to resume the week of Feb. 25,” FCA Canada spokeswoman Lou Ann Gosselin told the trade publication Automotive News.
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The upcoming shutdown will be the third temporary closure of 2019. The plant did not operate the first two weeks of January to adjust inventories, the company said at the time. (more…)
Tags: FCA Windsor minivan plant, FCA Windsor plant shut down, FCA news, FCA parts shortage, FCA supplier problem, Mexico supplier strikes, Mexico suppliers cause parts shortages, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, joseph szczesny, suppliers on U.S.-Mexico border strike, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Business, Executives, FCA, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, U.S./North America, Union | No Comments »
Company ups effort to end racist acts in Ohio plant.
by Michael Strong on Feb.12, 2019
Several employees have reported incidents of racial intimidation at GM's powertrain plant in Toledo, Ohio.
General Motors’ battle against racist acts in an Ohio plant is getting more serious as the automaker is now offering a $25,000 reward to anyone who has information about nooses and other racist symbols appearing at the site.
The company began offering the $25,000 reward in January at the GM Powertrain plant in Toledo, after a string of complaints from employees about the behavior of other employees starting in early 2017 and symbols evolved into a lawsuit against the company in the fall of 2018.
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“We have zero tolerance for discrimination, and we’re doing everything we can to identify the culprit. This is another step we’ve taken, working with police to intensify the investigation,” GM said in a statement to the Free Press. “We’re outraged that anyone would face threats, and our hearts go out to anyone affected by this bigotry.” (more…)
Tags: GM fighting racism in Ohio plant, GM noose reward, GM plant nooses, GM racism, GM racist Ohio plant, GM reward to catch noose hangers, GM struggle with racism in Ohio plant, General Motors $25K reward, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, gm news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Executives, GM, GMC, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, Personalities, Politicians, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | No Comments »
Musician shows support with performance of musical in Oshawa.
by Michael Strong on Feb.11, 2019
Actor/musician Sting and the cast of The Last Ship in Toronto are going to Oshawa for a free performance to support workers at the GM plant that is shutting down.
Union workers at General Motors’ plant in Oshawa, Ontario, have found a high-profile ally in their fight to prevent the announced closure of the plant: Musical star Sting.
The musician, who has won multiple Grammys and fronted The Police before expanding into acting and musical theater, is joining forces with Unifor in protest of the plant closure. He and the cast of his musical, The Last Ship, are performing in Oshawa on Thursday.
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The musical is currently playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. However, it will travel to Oshawa for this performance – at no cost. Unifor is paying the cost to rent the theater. (more…)
Tags: Sting joins Unifor protest of Oshawa closure, Sting lends support to GM workers in Oshawa, Sting performance supports Oshawa workers, Sting protesting Oshawa closure, The Last Ship performance supports Oshawa workers, TheDetroitBureau.com., Unifor news, auto news, gm news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Celebrities, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Markets, Personalities, U.S./North America, Unifor, Union | No Comments »
Technology is going to lead, but old school rules will ensure success.
by Joseph Szczesny on Feb.08, 2019
Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of Global Operations, meets with the media after the announcement that Ford would pump $1B into the Chicago plant.
As the auto industry stands on the cusp of a huge upheaval, Ford Motor Co. is pursuing a strategy that not only looks to new technology, but also relies on the deft use of the manufacturing skills that were instrumental in the company’s rise more than a century ago.
Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, Global Operations, said the billion-dollar investment the company is making in its manufacturing operations in Chicago, where the company has some 6,000 blue-collar workers and plans to add 500 more in the few months, will depend utilize both the latest automation but also the human touch.
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“We’re going to have a new, highly-automated paint shop and body shop,” said Hinrichs talking about Ford’s future plans with reporters at the Chicago Auto Show. But Ford is also depending on the skill of its employees to build the new Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator.as well as specialty vehicles such as the police interceptor that is based on the Explorer. (more…)
Tags: Ford $1B Chicago investment, Ford Chicago Assembly Plant, Ford China plans, Ford future production, Ford's Joe Hinrichs, Hinrichs says manufacturing will set company's tone, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford exports to china, ford news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Business, Chicago, China, Europe, Executives, Ford, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Politicians, SUVs, Sales, South America, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | No Comments »
Fiat Chrysler employees have taken home $29K since 2009.
by Joseph Szczesny on Feb.07, 2019
Fiat Chrysler's hourly employees will received $6,000 profit-sharing checks.
Hourly employees of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. will collect $6,000 from the FCA-United Auto Workers profit-sharing plan next month, the automaker announced after releasing its fourth quarter financial reports.
Based on the company’s 2018 financial performance, FCA US LLC announced today that it will make average profit-sharing payments to approximately 44,000 employees on March 8, 2019.
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With this payment, U.S. hourly employees have received on average more than $29,000 in profit sharing since 2009. (more…)
Tags: FCA news, FCA pays $6K profit sharing, FCA profit-sharing, FCA profit-sharing checks, Fiat Chrysler hourly workers profit sharing, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, joseph szczesny, profit-sharing news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Business, Chrysler, Dodge, Earnings, Executives, FCA, Markets, Personalities, Ram, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | No Comments »
GM riled up by Unifor's protest commercial.
by Michael Strong on Feb.04, 2019
Audi's "Cashew" commercial during last night's Super Bowl generated huge traffic to the company's website: more than any other automaker's ad.
Last night’s Super Bowl may not have been the most impressive display of football ever, but as New England Patriots QB Tom Brady sought his sixth ring, automakers sought those less interested in Brady’s quest and more compelled by the commercials between drives.
While the automakers may or may not have lived up to expectations, it’s a commercial unseen by most viewers that may have had the biggest impact.
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According to Edmunds.com, joining Brady and the Patriots on the winners podium last night were Audi and Toyota. Edmunds analysts tracked traffic to brand and model pages on both its desktop and mobile sites during the game to see which automotive ads were most successful in driving immediate shopper interest. (more…)
Tags: Audi's Super Bowl commercial, GM Unifor fighting about Super Bowl ad, GM orders Unifor cease-and-desist on Super Bowl ad, Super Bowl automotive ads, Super Bowl commercials, TheDetroitBureau.com., Toyota Supra Super Bowl commercial, Unifor runs GM protest ad during Super Bowl, auto news, automaker commercials during Super Bowl, automotive advertising, michael strong, super bowl car ads, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advertising, Audi, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, EVs, Events, Executives, GM, Markets, Personalities, Sales, Sports Cars, Toyota, U.S./North America, Unifor, Union | Comments Off
Maker cites "uncertainties" in marketplace.
by Joseph Szczesny on Feb.04, 2019
Nissan is moving production of the X-Trail from its plant in Sunderland, England, to Japan due to Brexit issues.
Nissan has confirmed it is shifting production of the X-Trail sport-utility vehicle from its big plant in Sunderland, England, to Japan.
In a letter to workers, it said continued Brexit uncertainty is not helping firms to “plan for the future,” according to the BBC. In 2016, the then-Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn said the company would build the new model in the UK after “assurances” from the government, the BBC said.
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Unions described the news as “disappointing” and said they were “seriously concerned.” (more…)
Tags: Nissan England production cut, Nissan cuts X-Trail from England plant, Nissan cuts vehicle production in England, Nissan moving X-Trail production from England to Japan, Nissan says Brexit problems caused England plant cut, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, joseph szczesny, nissan news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Europe, Executives, Markets, Nissan, Personalities, Politicians, SUVs, Trade, Union | Comments Off
Hinrichs offers Ford retiree and sons lunch with Chairman Ford.
by Michael Strong on Jan.31, 2019
Ford retiree John West, center, was joined by Ford's Joe Hinrichs, right, during Deal or No Deal last night, where West walked away with $200,000.
As other automakers like Fiat Chrysler, Hyundai and others seek top time slots for television ads during this weekend’s Super Bowl, Ford may have beaten them all to the punch after last night’s Deal or No Deal.
Last night’s game show featured 64-year-old Ford Motor Co. retiree John West, who was nominated for the show on CNBC by his five sons. The very clearly pro-Detroit family took home a nice chunk of change and unexpected surprise … or two.
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The appearance was very Ford themed. While talking about Detroit and specifically his time at Ford Motor Co., there were two other ties to the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker. (more…)
Tags: Ford Deal or No Deal, Ford deal on television, Ford's Hinrichs on game show, Hinrichs Deal or No Deal, Hinrichs news, Hinrichs offers Ford retiree a deal, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Celebrities, Executives, Ford, Markets, Personalities, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
Workers told to stay home – and to turn back their own thermostats.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.31, 2019
A fire at Consumers Energy's facility in Armada Township, Michigan, north of Detroit, has Detroit-area automakers closing some plants. (Photo credit: Fox2Detroit)
The alert went out by smartphone to nearly 2 million natural gas customers across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula: turn back your thermostats or risk the possibility of having natural gas supplies cut off.
While some utilities have raised concerns about gas supplies in previous cold waves, the warning from Michigan-based Consumers Energy Co. was compounded by a fire at a gas compression facility near Detroit that created a potentially worst-case scenario, shortages even as demand for heat across the frozen state was reaching record level in temperatures dropping into the double-digits below zero.
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And individual consumers aren’t the only ones being impacted. Ford Motor Co. says it has reduced operations at four plants as of Thursday morning, while General Motors has temporarily halted or reduced operations at 11 of its own factories, as well as its Technical Center in the Detroit suburb of Warren. About 20,000 workers at that sprawling complex have been asked to work at home through Friday. (more…)
Tags: Consumers Energy fire, FCA closes plants, Ford closes plants, GM closes plants, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, automakers close plants due to gas fire, automakers shut down Detroit-area plants, paul a. eisenstein, polar vortex causes fire that shutters plants, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Executives, FCA, Ford, GM, Markets, Personalities, Politicians, Regulatory, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
