· From Chairman Mike Bullock: Good news: After weeks of discussions, management has agreed to another round of referrals. The referral window will open next Monday, Jan. 12 and will be open for 2 weeks. Once again, you will refer people online through mysocrates under the “workplace” tab. Instruction sheets will be available at the entrances and personnel.
· December was a blowout sales month for GM. Market share came in at 18.2% for the month. As expected, our van sales dropped for the month as we cut back production. For the 2014 calendar year we sold 105,993 vans. Here’s a look at both the van and pickup numbers for December:
· Field supplies for the van reflect the reduced production numbers. Net field stock dropped to a 37 day supply from 62 at the end of November. Total stock stands at 10,560 at the end of the year. That compares to 18,189 at the end of 2013. Cargo van supply is barely a third of what it was then, passenger vans less than half. Pickup supplies are also very tight. The Colorado stands at 19 days and the Canyon at 37 days (60 – 70 days is considered ideal). The plant will continue to be under pressure to produce both vans and pickups for the foreseeable future.
· Mark your calendars: First up, next Monday, Jan. 12, is the announcement of the North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Colorado is a finalist along with the Ford F150 and the Lincoln MKC.
· Next up: GM is reporting 4th quarter and full year earnings Wednesday, Feb. 4, at which time we will learn what the profit share payout will be (profit share currently stands at $4250). The contract states payment is due “no later than the end of the 3rd month following the end of the plan year.” This translates to the end of March. However, last year payment was made Feb. 28.
· UAW President Dennis Williams on President Obama’s auto plant tour marking the auto sector's successful turnaround and the end of the government's historic efforts to save the auto industry: "Together, the members of the UAW, government officials of all parties led by the Obama White House, and the auto companies have shown how cooperation and shared sacrifice could take an industry from its darkest day to the economic bright spot of the international economy. Through shared sacrifice members and consumers can benefit and it is our hope that both members and consumers can continue to reap the significant benefits of a prosperous industry that drives our economy." The remarks come as President Obama stopped in at Ford's Michigan Assembly plant as part of a multicity tour to highlight his administration's successes in preparation for his Jan. 20 State of the Union address. The remarks also come on the heels of the Dec. 22 announcement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew of the final sale of Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) stock involved in the rejuvenation of the U.S. auto industry. In all, the unprecedented work of the UAW, the auto companies and the U.S. government yielded $15.35 billion in profit. It also saved 1.5 million jobs and preserved $105.3 billion in personal and social insurance tax collections, according to a 2013 study by the Center for Automotive Research.
· Sporting a face only a mother could love, the redesigned 2016 Toyota Tacoma broke cover yesterday in advance of the Detroit Auto Show. Initial reports were thin on details, but we know that it will have a new frame, interior and obviously sheet metal. It will have both 4 and 6 cylinder engines, neither of which were identified, never mind the specifications. Ditto any transmission choices.
Tom Brune
UAW Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
No comments:
Post a Comment