October 8, 2013 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
There will be a Veterans Committee meeting this Thursday, Oct. 10 at 4:30 pm at the Union Hall. Main topic will be the upcoming SOS Rally scheduled for this Sunday, Oct. 13. Volunteers are still needed to help with registrations. If you can help, please come to the meeting or contact Steve Melson at 636-262-1234.
The Community Services Committee will be having a meeting Thursday, Oct. 17 between shifts in the cafeteria. As always, anyone wishing to become a member is welcome to attend.
From Reuters: Volkswagen's top labour leader lent weight on Monday to efforts by U.S. union UAW to represent workers at the German company's U.S. plant, an issue that has raised hackles among some U.S. politicians and other critics of the UAW. Volkswagen prefers German-style labour representation at the plant through a works council and has held talks with the UAW about how the union can be involved in setting one up. However, Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker has said it would be a mistake for VW to allow the UAW to organize workers at its Tennessee plant. Last month, Corker called that possibility a "job-destroying idea" and said it would make the German automaker a "laughingstock in the business world."
Bernd Osterloh, head of VW's global works council, said in a statement that forming a council was important if the plant wanted to produce other VW cars and that he would keep talking with the UAW. "We know how important that (second) vehicle is for Chattanooga," said Osterloh, who as deputy chairman of VW has a say on production decisions. He said he plans to meet politicians and other supporters and opponents of the UAW in the United States in the next few weeks. However, an anti-UAW petition signed by 563 VW Chattanooga hourly employees was delivered last Friday to plant executives, said Mike Burton, the leader of the petition drive. Burton said that most of the signatures on the anti-UAW petition were gathered within two weeks. Burton, who works in the plant's paint shop, said he and a few co-workers will continue to collect signed petitions with a goal of attaining a majority of the 1,567 hourly workers.
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk said a curved metal component was apparently the culprit in causing a Tesla to catch on fire last Tuesday. He says the object’s shape led to a powerful hit on the underside of the vehicle, punching a 3-inch hole through an armor plate (1/4 inch-thick aluminum we’re told) that protects the car’s bottom. Firefighting crews found that water seemed to intensify the fire, so they began using a dry chemical extinguisher. After dismantling the front end of the vehicle and puncturing holes in the battery pack, responders used a circular saw to cut an access hole in the front section to apply water to the battery, according to documents. Only then was the fire extinguished. Tesla took control of the vehicle to determine the cause of the fire. Alas, there was not a NHTSA investigation due to the government shutdown.
Speaking of the government shutdown, here is a statement issued by UAW President Bob King on the issue: “Tea Party Republicans continued their extremist ways and shutdown the federal government in an attempt to implement their far, right-wing agenda. Congressional Republicans’ insistence on denying health care coverage to millions of Americans by undermining the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is immoral as well as practically futile. By refusing to fund the government they have ignored the wishes of the American people and have placed millions of jobs and economic recovery in jeopardy.
“House Republicans have done it again. In order to please the far right, they are taking money out of the pockets of working Americans, and costing our nation jobs. Any manufactured crisis that further slows growth and costs jobs is unacceptable. If the right wing in Congress were serious about preventing harm to Americans, they would pass a responsible budget and end sequestration, which is estimated to reduce employment by 900,000 in the next fiscal year. The House should pass a clean, temporary budget and debt limit increase without partisan wrangling, and work with President Obama and the Senate to strengthen our country.
“Along with millions of other workers, the livelihood of many UAW members is now in jeopardy because of this extremism. UAW members perform federally funded research at our nation’s colleges and universities, determine eligibility for social safety net programs, provide legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, build next generation vehicles for our military, and much more. A government shutdown harms all Americans now and in the future. The UAW stands ready to work with all who are serious about strengthening our economy and creating a brighter future.”
General Motors revealed the redesigned Cadillac Escalade last night in New York, marking the latest new product for a luxury brand that has morphed from laggard to serious contender over the last few years. The introduction of the fourth-generation Escalade comes as Cadillac sales have risen 29% so far this year from the first nine months of 2012. The 2015 Escalade, which goes into production next spring, follows the successful introductions last year of the ATS and XTS sedans. Production began last month on a dramatically overhauled CTS midsize car. Cadillac also plans to launch the all-new ELR electric coupe in early 2014. Designers sharpened the Escalade's existing exterior by accentuating the vehicle's distinctive tall, thin LED headlights, for example. "The 2015 Escalade is completely new and elevated in design and technology, inside and out. The clear objective is to once again assume the leadership position among luxury SUVs," Bob Ferguson, senior vice president of global Cadillac, said in a statement.
Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst at Kelley Blue Book, said the vehicle look is "bolder, bigger, more impressive, both inside and out. They need to solidify their base. It's very different from the large SUVs and CUVs from the imports, and I think that's an important distinction." GM's new 6.2-liter, 8-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission is the standard powertrain. Special attention was paid to improving the quality of the interior. "It's a very rich-looking interior," Nerad said. "It seems ergonomically excellent, and at the same time it's luxurious and looks rich.” It will be built at GM's assembly plant in Arlington, Texas. The average Escalade price in September was $73,596, according to KBB. GM said the vehicle, which only recently shed its dubious distinction as the most-stolen vehicle in the U.S., is packed with new theft-prevention technology. For example, it has sensors that monitor glass shattering and interior movement.
Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
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