From Chairman Mike Bullock: There are still numerous openings in several departments that will be posted today at all the entrances. The union has successfully negotiated with management to open up all the remaining openings to all employees, permanent and temporary. The intention is that the temporary employees in the plant are going to be converted soon and they should also have the opportunity to bid on these openings. This agreement will be reviewed as openings are needed.
Reminder: This Saturday, Feb. 15 is the 22nd Annual African-American Heritage Celebration at the Union Hall. Doors open at 6:30 pm and dinner is served at 7 pm. Beer, set-ups and snacks will be provided and with music by DJ “T Gutta”. Come on out and help make this a memorable celebration!
General Motors has more segment award recipients than any other automaker in the J.D Power 2014 Vehicle Dependability Study, doubling last year’s segment awards from four to eight across its four brands. The 2014 study tracks 2011 model year vehicles in the third year of ownership. By brand, Cadillac was in the third spot overall (behind Lexus and Mercedes-Benz). Buick came in at fifth. GMC improved one position to come in at 16. Chevy dropped one spot to 13. For Chevrolet, the Volt received this highest dependability award in the Compact Car segment in its launch year. The Camaro ranked highest in its segment for a second year in a row, after also receiving the award as a launch vehicle last year. GM earned the top two spots in the Large Heavy Duty Pickup segment for dependability with the GMC Sierra HD receiving the segment award and Chevrolet Silverado HD ranking second. This marks the second year in a row that GMC Sierra HD ranks highest in vehicle dependability.
GM improved to 4th overall up from 6th in 2013
All four of GM’s NA brands are at or above industry average
Eight award winners (up from four last year) include the Chevy Camaro (Midsize Sporty Car), Chevy Volt (Compact Car), Buick Lucerne (Large Car), GMC Yukon (Large Crossover SUV), GMC Sierra LD (Large Light Duty Pickup), GMC Sierra HD (Large Heavy Duty Pickup), Cadillac DTS (Large Premium), Cadillac Escalade (Large Premium SUV)
Five additional models (same as last year) ranked in top three in their segments
- Chevrolet Tahoe (Large SUVs)
- Chevrolet Silverado HD (Large HD Pickup)
- Chevrolet Avalanche (Large LD Pickup)
- Buick LaCrosse (Midsize Car)
- GMC Canyon (Midsize Pickup)
GM has three of the 10 highest-ranked models in the study:
Chevrolet Volt, Cadillac DTS, Buick Lucerne
Powertrain issues were the top problems reported in this year’s study
Launch performance was mixed with the Volt launching at the top of its segment, but Regal and Cruze launched below their segment averages
Tennessee Sen. Bob “I’m not anti-union” Corker had pledged last week to cease commenting on the pending vote at the VW plant in Chattanooga. "During the next week and a half, while the decision is in the hands of the employees, I do not think it is appropriate for me to make additional public comment," Corker told news outlets last week. That stance drew praise from the UAW. "Other politicians," UAW Region 8 Director Gary Casteel said, "should follow the lead of Senator Corker and respect these workers' right to make up their own minds." But Corker, the former mayor of Chattanooga, subsequently announced this past Monday that he would hold a press conference Tuesday to weigh in on the UAW election. "I am very disappointed the UAW is misusing my comments to try to stifle others from weighing in on an issue that is so important to our community," Corker said in a statement. "While I had not planned to make additional public remarks in advance of this week's vote, after comments the UAW made this weekend, I feel strongly that it is important to return home and ensure my position is clear." (as if we don’t already know) But Mr. Inappropriate went further this time, saying the union drive is already hurting efforts to recruit other companies. "We know the impact these discussions are already having on our ability to attract companies -- not just to Chattanooga, but to Tennessee," Corker told reporters during a press conference in Chattanooga. "It's real. If it weren't for that, candidly, I wouldn't be weighing in on this issue." Not content to stop there, Corker revealed this bit of news yesterday: "I've had conversations today and based on those am assured that should the workers vote against the UAW, Volkswagen will announce in the coming weeks that it will manufacture its new mid-size SUV here in Chattanooga.” He would not reveal with whom he had these “conversations”. VW responded this morning: “There is no connection between our Chattanooga employees' decision about whether to be represented by a union and the decision about where to build a new product for the U.S. market," said Frank Fischer, CEO and chairman of Volkswagen Chattanooga. We’ll let UAW Local 1853 Chairman Mike Herron (Spring Hill) have the last word: “Statements made by Tennessee lawmakers and outside special interests couldn’t be further from the truth. The UAW has had a very positive impact on economic development in the state of Tennessee. The General Motors Spring Hill Assembly plant was idled during the economic crisis. It is only open today because the UAW negotiated to re-open the plant in 2011 collective bargaining. Our collective bargaining agreement resulted in a $350 million investment from GM and more than 1,800 jobs at plant and thousands more at businesses that support Spring Hill. GM will add at least another 1,800 jobs with the addition of two new products. GM does not have any problem attracting suppliers to Tennessee or getting incentives from the state. When you’re going to bring 2,000 jobs to the state, people are interested in participating. There's no shortage of elected officials who are eager to be a part of that process.”
• From Automotive News: Labor unions at all of Japan's automakers are seeking an increase in base salaries and bonuses, as companies including Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. forecast record profits this fiscal year. Workers at Toyota will ask for a 4,000 yen ($39) average increase in monthly wages and annual bonuses valued at 6.8 months' salary. Toyota agreed last year to a union proposal for a 2013 average bonus of about 2.05 million yen ($20,032), the biggest in five years. It paid a 2.51 million yen bonus ($24,535) in 2008, according to the workers' union.
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