State of the Union February 15, 2011

Feb 15, 2011 online at www.uawlocal2250.com

Reminder: The Election Committee election is today. Polls are open until 7 pm this evening at the Union Hall.

Union Meeting is tomorrow at 1 pm, 3 pm and 15 minutes after the longest first shift line time.

Raffle tickets are still being sold for the use of a VAP vehicle from Feb. 23 through Feb. 27. Tickets are $5 apiece or 3 for $10 and can be bought at Suggestions, Personnel or and VAP team member or PMN member. Proceeds will go to this year’s Make-A-Wish dream. Ticket sales will end this Friday, Feb. 18 and the drawing will be Monday, Feb. 21.

Nissan is revving up their marketing efforts for the NV full-size van. Wards Auto reports that Nissan is requiring 247 of its 1,058 U.S. dealers that have opted to sell the NV to meet a slew of prerequisites such as extended service hours, at least one 12,000 pound lift, a higher-than-average part-stocking level and priority service scheduling, in order to get the driver on his way as soon as possible. To get potential NV buyers into dealerships, Nissan – recognizing that people driving commercial vans spend a lot of time inside them – will advertise heavily on radio. The auto maker also is placing print ads in trade magazines, such as Plumbing Systems & Design and Builder, as well as in consumer magazines Entrepreneur, Smart Money and Fortune. NV buyers can design and submit a graphic for their van to Original Wraps via the dedicated website that’s been set up or opt for a no-charge upfit package. The latter includes shelving or a partition, or a partition and interior or exterior utility rack. Adrian Steel, in Adrian, MI, is Nissan’s partner for the no-charge upfit, which also can be configured via the dedicated website. Sales begin in March.

From Automotive News: Nissan Motor Corp.'s operating profits in North America slid 25 percent in the latest quarter despite a double-digit surge in new-car sales. Results were undercut by the Japanese yen's steady climb against the dollar and lower sales of returned leased vehicles in the United States. Operating profit fell to ¥48.9 billion, or about $599.7 million, in the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, from $798.4 million a year earlier. North American sales, by contrast, climbed 21 percent to 310,430 vehicles in the period. In the United States, Nissan sold 234,869 units, 24 percent more than the year before.