•From Chairman Mike Bullock: Earlier this week, the UAW Quality Network “People Make Quality Happen” awards were presented and the Wentzville team was selected as one of just three “Best of the Best” presenters with their work on brake failures. This is a great achievement and another positive indicator for the plant. Congratulations and thanks to chassis problem solver Joe Walch, whose hard work helped make this happen.
•From the New York Times: Automakers have had a mixed history with natural gas in the United States, but General Motors Co. is betting that a new line of fleet vans can bring the technology back. The new vans will be available for the 2011 model year. Pricing hasn't yet been released. "We're listening to our fleet customers and dealers about offering options that help them achieve their business objectives," said Brian Small, general manager of GM's fleet and commercial operations, in a release. "The industry commitment to expand the CNG and LPG infrastructure in key fleet markets was an enabler to allowing us to introduce these options now." Details about emissions and range aren't available yet. Customers had requested CNG and LPG engines, McGarry said. GM had explored electrifying the vans, but decided against it. "You'd have a significant number of batteries, so you'd be carrying a lot of weight around, which would cut down on capacity," McGarry said. "A lot of these companies have looked at those options. They know someday there will be electric vans that will be commercially viable. But this is a next step, and one of multiple pathways."
•From a Fortune article about the Chinese operations of electronics maker Foxconn: Obviously Foxconn's labor problems -- indeed all of China's -- are too big for even (Apple CEO) Steve Jobs to solve. But there is a relatively simple solution, one that has served both workers and employers (although not Apple) for three hundred years: allow the employees to negotiate their own wages and working conditions. There is a union at Foxconn, but its leaders are not democratically elected by the workers and they are clearly not doing their job. (If you are interested in showing solidarity with Foxconn’s workers and complain to companies like Apple and Dell, go to www.labourstart.organd click on the related link in the menu ActNOW! to send a message)
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