State of the Union September 26, 2013

September 26, 2013 online at www.uawlocal2250.com


There will be a Recreation Committee meeting today between shifts at the Union Hall. All are welcome to attend. The main topic of this meeting will be planning for the 30th anniversary celebration of Local 2250.

There will be a Chaplaincy Committee meeting today at 4:45 pm in the Chassis Chapel located at column C-42. All are welcome.

Reminder: Friday, Sept. 27 is the deadline for ordering your Making Strides Against Breast Cancer UAW-GM T-shirts. All shirts are $20. Order forms are available at the entrances and you can drop them off in the suggestions boxes with CASH ONLY or you can also leave them with Pat Workman,Becky Schieffer, Kandi Kinsler, Tamara Harris or Klaudia Jakubiak. The walk will be Sat. Oct. 26, Forest Park at 9 am.

From Automotive News: Even without a free-trade pact, Ford Motor Co. has leaned on European models such as the Ford Fiesta and C-Max to extend its U.S. product line. But that strategy can backfire. This year, in a clear example of why Ford is pushing so hard for a trans-Atlantic treaty, the automaker had its hand slapped by the U.S. government for bringing cargo vans into the United States without paying the "chicken tax" -- a 50-year-old tax on imported trucks and vans, so named because it was imposed as payback for a German tariff on chicken. In the little-noticed January ruling, officials at U.S. Customs and Border Protection took issue with how Ford was importing the Turkey-built Transit Connect, a commercial van popular in Europe that Ford launched in the U.S. market four years ago. Ford chose to bring the Transit Connects to the United States equipped as passenger vans. Then, at a warehouse at the Port of Baltimore, a contractor would strip out seats and windows to prepare them for sale as cargo vans. In doing so, Ford hoped to save thousands of dollars in tariffs per unit on the cargo version, which starts at $23,420, including shipping. Small passenger vans, like cars, face a 2.5 percent import tariff in the United States, compared with the 25 percent tariff on cargo vans. In the Jan. 30 decision, U.S. customs officials told Ford to stop. "It is clear that the Connect is a commercial vehicle first and foremost," said the 13-page ruling. Ford's strategy "serves no manufacturing or commercial purpose" other than to "manipulate the tariff schedule," the ruling added. A Ford spokesman said the company is appealing the ruling, which it says contradicts previous decisions by the agency. In the meantime, it is still importing Transit Connects and paying the higher tariff. Ford has announced plans to launch a redesigned Transit Connect at the end of 2013, to be built in Valencia, Spain, rather than Turkey. Those plans haven't changed, the spokesman said (ed.note: the van will also be produced in Kansas City) At the same time, Ford is lobbying Congress and U.S. trade negotiators to keep the chicken tax in place against Japanese automakers. The American Automotive Policy Council, a trade group that represents the Detroit 3, says the chicken tax for Japanese trucks shouldn't be fully phased out for 25 or 30 years. Japan has no tariffs, but the group argues that because of other trade barriers, foreign brands can barely sell any vehicles in Japan.

From the Chattanooga Times Free Press: Seven workers at Chattanooga's Volkswagen plant are filing federal charges against the United Auto Workers, saying the union misled and coerced them and other employees to forfeit their rights in its card-signing campaign to gain their support, a group said today. The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation said its attorneys are to file the charges today with the National Labor Relations Board's regional office in Atlanta. According to the foundation, VW workers were told by UAW organizers that a signature on the card was to call for a secret-ballot election. The workers also charged other "improprieties" in the card-check process, including using cards that were signed too long ago to be legally valid. (Here is a picture of the card)Click on images for larger photo.


Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly

State of the Union September 18, 2013

September 18, 2013 online at www.uawlocal2250.com

From the Veterans Committee: The 8th annual SOS (Support Our Soldiers) Rally is Sunday, Oct. 13. Registration begins at 10 am at the Union Hall and last bike out by noon. Cost is $10 per bike and $5 for each extra hand. All bikes and cages are welcome. The ride ends at Maggie Malones. Proceeds will benefit Heroes Care. For more information contact Steve Melson at 636-262-1234.

For those members who have spouses either working at or retired from GM, you can avoid paying double taxes on the imputed income related to Legal Services benefits by calling 800-521-7818, ext. 2389 to have your coverage changed to one of you. You need to call by Friday, Sept. 20. And remember, Legal Services will end Dec. 31 this year.

From TruckTrend: With Volkswagen's home market of Europe continuing to face hardships, the company is focusing its expansion and growth efforts outside of the Continent, specifically looking toward Southeast Asia and North America for growth. Jonathan Browning, VW's CEO of North American operations, said commercial vehicles "certainly represent an opportunity" for the company, in a report from Reuters, but remained non-committal about a specific timeframe or model offering. The most obvious prospects for VW's expansion into the commercial sector would be the midsize Amarok pickup, as well as the Caddy compact cargo van, which would compete with the Ford Transit Connect, the Nissan NV200, and the upcoming Fiat Doblo-based compact cargo van coming from Ram.

From Reuters: Volkswagen will not grant immediate union recognition to its U.S. workers and may take months to reach agreement on a German-style works council for its Tennessee plant, company officials said today. Talks with the UAW are likely to continue into next year, said Sebastian Patta, human resources chief at the Chattanooga factory. VW must resolve some complex legal issues before setting up a U.S. works council, Patta told Reuters. "This is a very sensitive subject and we have only just started the dialogue." VW still has to decide whether to recognize the union on the basis of the card count or go ahead with a ballot on whether to recognize the union. Granting recognition on the basis of the card count is "not a priority," said a Germany-based VW official involved in the discussions, echoing the Chattanooga executive's remarks. He declined to be identified because the talks are confidential. VW declined comment on the card count or the company's next move. U.S. operations chief Jonathan Browning said earlier this month the union negotiations "may or may not conclude with formal third-party representation" that would ultimately depend on a full vote.

The U.S. Treasury has sold another block of shares in General Motors Co., reducing its stake to 7.3 percent as it moves toward exiting its holdings in the automaker by the end of March. The Treasury sold more than 110 million shares between May 6 and Sept. 13, raising more than $3.82 billion, according to documents posted online on Tuesday. The Treasury confirmed its stake in the No. 1 U.S. automaker now stands at 101 million shares. The Canadian and Ontario governments on Sept. 10 said they would sell nearly a quarter of their common shares in GM as part of a longer term plan to exit stock acquired in the bailout. After raising $1.1 billion in that sale, the governments still hold more than 110 million shares.

From Consumer Reports: In a heavy-metal duel of two top pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado’s excellent road-test score of 81 makes it the top-rated truck. The Silverado edged the Ram in several areas important to many pickup owners. When typically configured, it has a significantly larger bed and more payload capacity, and it can tow more weight. The Silverado also has a lower step-in height than the Ram, aiding access. It handles a bit better in everyday driving (though no big pickup is particularly agile). And it delivers best-in-class fuel economy of 16 mpg overall, which is 1 mpg better than the Ram.
That could save you about 50 gallons of gas per year. For years the Silverado has scored well in our tests, and the redesigned 2014 model is the best yet. Handling is more carlike than in most trucks, the cabin is very quiet, and it provides impressive towing and payload capabilities. And at 16 mpg overall, our Silverado got the best fuel economy of any full-sized truck we’ve tested. With well-contained body lean and linear, responsive steering, this truck feels eminently controllable. The steering has good heft yet feels light enough at low speeds for easy maneuvering. When pushed to its limits the Silverado proved stable and secure. A counter spring makes it easy to raise or lower the tailgate with one hand, a nice convenience when loading cargo. Its relatively low ride height eases access, and the cabin stays amazingly quiet inside. The main gauges are large and easy to read, and the controls use big, well-labeled buttons and knobs. The automatic climate controls display the set temperature within their knobs, which is a nice, user-friendly touch. Chevy’s MyLink touch-screen radio system offers modern capabilities with simple controls for the basic functions. (Both trucks outscored the previously-tested Ford’s F-150 XLT, which 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbo V6 and 5.0-liter V8 versions rank third and fourth respectively)

If Consumer Reports giving top scores to the Impala and Silverado isn’t enough to make you question the nature of the universe, how about Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker declaring that he is NOT anti-union? Before you build that doomsday bunker, here’s the other part of the story that restores sanity: he IS anti-UAW. "[Some of the] employees that worked at my company were union [members]," he said. "And I carried a union card as a young man." But Corker called the UAW a "destructive force," and he said the union will damage the city’s ability to attract suppliers and will stifle potential economic growth. Corker did not identify which union’s card he carried.

Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119

State of the Union September 10, 2013

September 10, 2013 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
Reminder: Applications for the Pre and Post Retirement program are still being accepted. The program is 4 sessions long, approximately 2 hours each session. Sessions will be before work for second shift and after work for first shift. Third shift will be determined by participation. We encourage everyone, including younger members, to seriously consider attending. Applications are available at the entrances and can be dropped in the Suggestions boxes at the entrances. By the time of the next contract, nearly half of all current members will be retirement eligible.

From the Women’s Committee: Thanks to everyone who donated their time and money in this year’s golf tournament. It was a big success. Over $1500 was raised for ALIVE (alternative to living in violent environment)!

The UAW issued a statement confirming that high level talks were recently held in Germany regarding representation at the VW plant in Tennessee. “The UAW confirms that officials of Volkswagen Group, the Volkswagen Global Works Council and the UAW met in Wolfsburg, Germany, on Aug. 30, 2013, in a continuation of previous meetings between their representatives. The meeting focused on the appropriate paths, consistent with American law, for arriving at both Volkswagen recognition of UAW representation at its Chattanooga facility and establishment of a German-style works council. We look forward to future discussions.” A letter signed by the Chattanooga plant’s chairman and CEO, Frank Fischer, and by Sebastian Patta, the facility’s vice president of human resources, also confirmed talks with the UAW. The letter discussed “the possibility of implementing an innovative model of employee representation for all employees.” And UAW President Bob King issued a statement saying, “The meeting focused on the appropriate paths, consistent with American law, for arriving at both Volkswagen recognition of UAW representation at its Chattanooga facility and establishment of a German-style works council. VW workers in Chattanooga have the unique opportunity to introduce this new model of labor relations to the United States, in partnership with the UAW. ‘

From the Detroit News: Workers at Hyundai Motor Co.’s South Korean plants approved a preliminary wage pact to raise base salary by 5.1 percent and end strikes at the company’s largest manufacturing base. The accord, which will raise the average compensation by 28.8 million won ($26,600), was approved in a vote by the Seoul- based company’s 46,000 guild members, according to a text message from union spokesman Kim Gi Hyuk. The wage agreement includes a 97,000-won ($90) increase in monthly base salary, and bonuses worth 3 1/2 months of wages plus 5 million won ($4600) in cash, according to a Sept. 6 statement on the union’s website. This is equivalent to an average of 28.8 million won extra per person.
Unifor Local 88, formerly known as Canadian Auto Workers Local 88, returned to the bargaining table Sunday with General Motors Co., hoping to come to an agreement on a new contract for about 2,600 hourly workers at GM’s CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario. Local President Dan Borthwick said Friday that formal negotiations with GM began Sunday and that the union has scheduled a ratification vote on Sept. 15. The current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 16. Borthwick wouldn’t comment on specifics that the union is seeking for its membership. “We want to improve the conditions both in the plant and economically for our members,” Borthwick said in a telephone interview. Borthwick said it’s unclear whether Unifor 88 will end up with a three- or four-year contract. GM Canada spokeswoman Adria MacKenzie said in an email, "We are optimistic that we can work with our CAW partners to overcome challenges together and find creative solutions to ensure we are competitive. There is still more work to be done to enhance the competitiveness of our Canadian operations and we will continue to work with the CAW to identify opportunities to improve." GM and Unifor Local 88 started negotiations earlier this year, but the union in late March canceled a scheduled ratification vote and around the same time announced formal talks were being suspended while the parties reviewed “a number of issues.” The sides have had informal discussions since. In August, the local union’s membership voted to authorize a strike if necessary, with 98.6 percent of members supporting, Borthwick said. “I think the deadline is necessary, but I believe a collective agreement can be reached between both parties,” he said.

From Automotive News: Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling about 780,000 crossovers and hybrid sedans for a second time to fix looseness on rear-suspension lower arms that could cause the threads to rust and wear out, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The recall covers 2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrids and 2006-11 Toyota RAV4 crossovers. The original recall for both vehicles was launched in November, but Toyota said it received reports from dealers that some vehicles experienced the same symptoms as before (Doh!!) Drivers reported hearing abnormal noises from the rear of the vehicles. The automaker, in documents submitted to regulators, said wear on the threaded part of the arm could cause the arm to separate, which could result in the loss of vehicle control and a crash. Toyota and Lexus sent similar letters to their dealers on Tuesday, Sept. 3, notifying them of the second recall. "Upon investigation, it was discovered that some inspections were not adequate and portions of the repair procedure may not have been performed correctly," the Toyota letter stated. Toyota said it has revised the inspection and remedy procedures and is asking owners to go to dealerships to have the revised procedures performed.

From Mlive: Employees of a General Motors Corp. engine component plant (Grand Rapids) were sent home at about 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, after a lightning strike caused a power outage. General Motors spokesman Bob Wheeler said company officials were meeting with Consumers Energy officials to evaluate the damage and determine if the plant’s second shift would be called in to work. The plant does not have adequate backup power to operate at full production, Wheeler said. Some of the backup equipment also sustained damage as a result of the lightning strike. While the factory is considered a critical supplier for General Motors, Wheeler said the outage should not have a company-wide effect if production resumes within a day. “Hopefully this is short term and hopefully, we lost only one shift of production,” he said.

Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119