• From Chairman Mike Bullock: It has come to the attention of the Union that the Medical Department has been requiring some employees to give urine samples that were not required to do so by the contract. NO employees should give a urine sample without first speaking to their Union Representative or calling 636-327-2250. Any employees who have given a urine sample in the previous six months should contact their Union Representative. All employees have the right to have their Union Representative present during any interviews with the Plant Doctor. The Union recommends that all employees have their Union Representative present for interviews with the Plant Doctor. On a different note, I want to remind everyone about the 2 events at the Union Hall Saturday. First, Santa is at the hall from noon to 2 pm for all your children and grandchildren. Second, the annual Christmas Celebration will kick off at 6:30 pm with dinner served at 7 pm along with music provided by Brother Ken Wikoff from 7 until midnight. And finally, don’t forget today’s annual Chassis Christmas Party after 1st shift at Maggie Malones (990 Wentzville Parkway).
• The annual Pre-Trim Bake Sale is Monday, Dec. 9 beginning at 8 am and continuing until they are sold out. It is located at the team center, column N-32. If you wish to donate baked goods you can drop them off at that team center Monday morning. All donations are appreciated. Proceeds go to support Adopt A Child.
Reminder: This is the last day to buy raffle tickets to support the Women’s Committee.
• November van sales remained steady, up 4.1% but down slightly from October. Here’s how the rest of the segment shook out:
| 2013 | 2012 | Change | Share | |
| Ford Econoline | 10,145 | 8400 | +20.8% | 47.7% |
| GM | 7,311 | 7021 | +4.1% | 34.3% |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 2010 | 1630 | +23.3% | 9.4% |
| Nissan NV | 990 | 1042 | -5.0% | 4.7% |
| Ram Promaster | 828 | ---- | ---- | 3.9% |
| Ford Transit Connect | 2303 | 2853 | -19.3% | ---- |
| Nissan NV200 | 621 | ---- | ---- | ---- |
Field supplies as measured by days rose from 60 to 68. Overall net field stock was up 2200 units, with the biggest gains (1740) in cargo vans. Cutaways basically accounted for the rest of the build. Looking at midsize pickups, Toyota sold 12,601 Tacomas, up 2.7% while Nissan sold 6003 Frontiers, up 54.6%.
• UAW statement on the passing of Nelson Mandela: “The UAW deeply mourns the loss of Nelson Mandela, one of the most influential civil rights and social justice leaders of our time. Nelson Mandela demonstrated how commitment to core principles and social justice can change the world. His actions freed millions from the chains of racism. From his humble beginnings to his imprisonment for fighting against the apartheid system in South Africa, Nelson Mandela was an inspiration to the world. It was an incredible honor for the UAW, through the leadership of then-President Owen Bieber, to play a role in supporting Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists in the 1980s. President Bieber traveled to South Africa to support Mandela and other activists, and when Mandela toured the United States in 1990 after his release from prison, he insisted on celebrating with UAW Local 600 in Dearborn, Mich. During that trip, Mandela invited Bieber to be at his side during a rally at Tiger Stadium. Nelson Mandela will be missed by those who believe in civil and human rights for all people. The best way to honor his passing is to continue to work for his ideals. We are committed to doing so.”
General Motors has generated a lot of news the last few days. First, the US Government announced they will be selling their remaining GM shares by the end of the year. Then, CEO Dan Akerson said that GM will no longer sell Chevrolet vehicles (save the occasional Corvette) in Europe, leaving the continent to the established brands of Opel and Vauxhaull. Continuing, a report from IHS Automotive said GM would reduce production in South Korea by nearly 20% by 2015 (GM spokesman Park Hae-ho declined to comment). And finally, a report out of Australia said that GM was ending vehicle production there by 2016 (Ford announced in May that they would close their 2 assembly plants there by 2016). That would spell the end of Holden, supplier of the just-launched Chevrolet SS sedan. Once again, no comment from GM.
From Automotive News: Big tax breaks for many buyers of commercial vehicles are scheduled to expire at year end, so automakers and dealers are scrambling to get the word out to small businesses to buy now. The tax breaks, part of federal stimulus legislation spurred by the recession, dramatically front load the depreciation schedules for many large assets, particularly for vehicles of more than 6,000 pounds, such as heavy-duty pickups. Mitchell Dale, owner of McRee Ford in Dickinson, Texas, said one customer who runs a fleet of about 50 vehicles was scheduled to replace two pickups; instead, he bought seven. "He bought five additional vehicles so he could take advantage of the tax benefits" because his accountant told him to, Dale said. "It is clearly stimulating some business on the commercial side." The tax breaks available this year can mean first-year depreciation of as much as $46,000 on a $60,000 heavy-duty pickup if a customer takes delivery before Dec. 31. The extra depreciation can reduce business tax bills by lowering taxable income.
From the Columbia Daily Herald: United Auto Workers Local 1853 members ratified a new agreement with General Motors that includes adding about 400 jobs at the Spring Hill facility. UAW Local 1853 Chairman Mike Herron said the agreement was approved Wednesday by 63 percent of the membership. There will be 384 new jobs — in addition to the 1,800 jobs announced in August when GM officials revealed Spring Hill’s facility would produce two new vehicles by 2016. UAW and GM officials have been tight-lipped about which new vehicles would be made at the local plant. When those new jobs would be added remains unknown and is GM’s decision, Herron said. “When GM feels that the timing is right from the overall product portfolio strategy standpoint in terms of making the announcement to the public, they will go ahead and make the announcement of the specific products,” Herron said. “I’m not sure when it’s going to be. The specific product announcement, we hope, is forthcoming in the very near future.”
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