State of the Union December 12, 2011

Dec. 12, 2011 online at
www.uawlocal2250.com

From Chairman Mike Bullock: Brothers and Sisters transferred here from Indianapolis or Massena – Bedford, Indiana is within Indianapolis’ “Area Hire/Former Community” transfer options. Tonawanda may be within Massena’s “Area Hire/Former Community”. You had the option of accepting the new “Modified Enhanced Relocation” package, the basic package or the enhanced package. I am trying to resolve “package issues” with the Corporation. There will be a special meeting at the Union Hall soon and we’ll let you know when it will be scheduled. We will need copies of the transfer paperwork you signed when you came to Wentzville when you contact us.

Here is this week’s build information: 24 E-26 vans; 815 cutaways; 209 slider doors; 128 15-pass vans; 22.4% 07 loop; 114 r/h door deletes; 130 exports; 116 diesels; 186 Onstar; 73 brake deck spare tire; 285 U-Haul; 269 Enterprise rent-a-car; 54 Penske; 86.3% white vans.

Reminder: All presents for the Adopt-A-Child program need to be turned in by Friday, Dec. 16. See Wanda Richard or Tina Hayes if you have any questions.

Due to high demand, the uniform store will be open daily from 8 am to 4 pm effective now through Thursday, Dec. 22.

Here are the winners of the Women’s Committee raffle: Million dollar board – Bob Greer; Scarves – Cleo Allen; Avon basket – Chas Wellman; Candle basket – Jon Dougherty. Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

The Ecotec 2.0L turbo I-4 engine that powers the all-new 2012 Buick Regal GS is one of WardsAuto World’s 2012 "10 Best Engines" for North America. The Ecotec 2.0L turbo’s 270 horsepower is the highest specific output of any GM production engine, and at 135 hp per liter, is the most power-dense engine certified by the Society of Automotive Engineers. "The turbocharged Ecotec 2.0L belongs on the list this year because it makes an outrageous 135 hp per liter in the Regal GS, and it’s a blast to drive," said WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. "This engine delivers a level of power and sophistication that redefines Buick." The Regal GS achieves 0-60 mph in less than 6.7 seconds and runs the quarter-mile in 15.2 seconds at 98 mph. Ward’s reviewed 35 engines from 15 automakers in this year’s competition. Winners were chosen based on several factors, including power; noise, vibration and harshness; fuel efficiency; new technology; and comparative data for similar engines.
This year’s winners and the applications tested:

o 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi A6)
o 2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (BMW Z4/528i)
o 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i coupe)
o 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Chrysler 300S/Jeep Wrangler)
o 2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4 (Ford Edge)
o 5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang Boss 302)
o 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Buick Regal GS)
o 1.6L DOHC I-4 (Hyundai Accent/Kia Soul)
o 2.0L Skyactiv DOHC I-4 (Mazda3)
o 3.5L DOHC V-6 HEV (Infiniti M35h)

From Automotive News: Hyundai Motor's vice chairman said it would be difficult for the UAW to unionize workers at the South Korean automaker's plant in the United States. Hyundai factory workers in Alabama do not see the need to join the UAW because Hyundai gives them stable jobs, said Yoon Yeo-cheol, who is in charge of Hyundai's labor relations. "It will not be easy (for UAW to unionize Hyundai workers). Hyundai employees there don't like it," he told reporters in Seoul. Hyundai's plant in Montgomery, Ala., employs more than 2,500 people and produces the Elantra and Sonata sedans. Hyundai's South Korean sister company Kia Motors also has an assembly plant in West Point, Ga. UAW President Bob King has said he wants to target a Japanese, South Korean or German automaker with U.S. plants in its campaign to unionize workers at plants of non-U.S. automakers. The UAW protested at more than 80 Hyundai dealerships in the United States last week in support of a South Korean woman who filed a sexual harassment claim against one of the automaker's suppliers. "This has nothing to do with the domestic organizing campaign," Michele Martin, a UAW spokeswoman, said at the time. "Hyundai is not the target." The UAW earlier this week said it had changed plans and decided it would not pick a specific company to organize in the United States.

From the Detroit News: The last Ford Ranger for the U.S. market is expected to roll off the line by Dec. 19, marking the end of an era, with more than 6.6 million sold over 29 years. There are an estimated 800,000 Rangers still on the road. Drivers of the compact pickup acknowledge their solidarity by waving to one another. With the end of production and closing of the 86-year-old Twin Cities Assembly Plant in Minnesota, Ford Motor Co. will be out of the compact pickup business in North America. Meanwhile, crosstown rival General Motors Co. prepares to launch the next generation of the compact Colorado in 2013. And Chrysler Group LLC is working on a compact unibody pickup to replace the discontinued Dodge Dakota. At a time when automakers are introducing ever-smaller cars to meet fuel-efficiency regulations, Ford is killing its smallest truck and directing consumers to the full-size F-150 with a more efficient V-6 engine.Ford's rationale is that there is little price bump — less than $5,000 — to the larger F-150, and dwindling sales of the Ranger did not warrant making and selling the next-generation model in the U.S.

"It leaves a sweet spot wide open for GM for buyers who want a domestic smaller pickup," said analyst Dave Sullivan of Auto Pacific Inc. The Auto Pacific 2011 Brand Study showed 19 percent of Ranger owners would buy another compact pickup, so they would have to defect to the competition.