-
Recent Posts
- 2025 Corvette ZR1 – 2.3 Seconds 0-60 MPH
- EU Car Sales Weak Again in November
- Supply Chain Resilience – U.S. DOT Four-Year Review
- CarMax FY Q3 Net Profit Up 1.2%
- Toyota to Get $4.5M in Fed Funding for EV Batteries
- California Advanced Clean Cars II Regs – EPA Grants Waivers!
- Clean Air Act – Power Performance Enterprises Fined
- Milestones – Sculptor Charles Sykes – Spirit of Ecstasy Creator
- US Auto Sales Forecast Trump Bump or Bumpy 25?
- Toyota Slashes 2025 Electric Vehicle Prices $6000
- Kenworth, Peterbuilt ABS Software Recall
- November Global Light Vehicle Sales Rate 93 Million
- Airports – More Safety, Capacity Improvements On Way
- Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Odometer Tampering
- December U.S. Auto Sales Start Strong
Recent Comments
- US Auto Sales Forecast Trump Bump or Bumpy 25? | AutoInformed on Trump Presidency Effects on Auto Industry – All Bad?
- Lisa Jacobson on Fossil Fuel Phase Out or Cop Out at COP28?
- Stellantis on Carlos Tavares Out as Stellantis CEO
- NHTSA Fines Ford $165M for Flouting Recall Law | AutoInformed on Ford Recalls Defective Rear-view Cameras on 620,246 Vehicles
- Alfa Romeo Returns to Formula 1 in 2018 via Sauber on Alfa Romeo Returns to Formula 1 in 2018 via Sauber
Archives
Meta
Category Archives: labor issues
UAW Locals Preparing to Strike Stellantis – National Strike?
The UAW said today that several UAW locals representing tens of thousands of workers under the national UAW Stellantis agreement are prepared to file grievances over the Stellantis’ failure to keep its investment commitments and honor the union contract,. This, of course leads to a national strike at Stellantis, if necessary.
“This company made a commitment to autoworkers at Stellantis in our union contract, and we intend to enforce that contract to the full extent,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “On behalf of autoworkers everywhere, we’re standing up against a company that wants to go back on its commitments and drive a race to the bottom at the expense of the American worker.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Belvidere Assembly, Detroit Assembly Complex, Ken Zino, Kokomo Casting, Kokomo Transmission, Toledo assembly, UAW President Shawn Fain, warren truck, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
VW Group – €2.6 Billion Exposure Over EV Plant Closing
In an ad hoc release late yesterday, the Volkswagen Group slashed its annual financial results forecast over the costs of the potential shutting down of an Audi EV plant in Brussels. In total, this will lead to a “burden on the operating result of up to €2.6 billion in the 2024 financial year.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, financial results, labor issues, mobility company, news analysis
Tagged AUDI AG, Audi Brussels EV plant, Audi Q8 e-tron, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, EV Grumblings, Ken Zino, Volkswagen AG
Leave a comment
June 2024 U.S. Transportation Sector Unemployment at 4.8%
Unemployment in the transportation sector was higher than overall unemployment. BLS said that the U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, in June 2024 was 4.3% or 0.5 percentage points below the transportation sector rate. Seasonally adjusted, the U.S. unemployment rate in June 2024 was 4.1%. Continue reading
Biden Administration Sets Job Creation Record at 15.7 million
“Too many Americans are still feeling squeezed by the cost of the living. I’m fighting to lower costs by taking on corporate price gouging, capping the cost of insulin and prescription drugs, and calling on Congress to lower rent by building 2 million new homes. Congressional Republicans have a different vision that sides with billionaires and special interests and will supercharge inflation. They’ll impose high consumer tariffs that will cost middle class families thousands of dollars each year, give a giant tax cut to the wealthy, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and allow big corporations to keep ripping off Americans. While they fight for Park Avenue, I’ll keep fighting for working families like the ones I grew up with in Scranton,” said President Biden in a White House statement. Continue reading
Posted in economy, labor issues, news, news analysis, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden-nomics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Joseph Biden, Julie Su, June 2024 Unemployment rates, Ken Zino, US June employment report
Leave a comment
UAW Strikes Again – This Time at Penske Logistics in El Paso
Members of UAW Local 286 walked off the job this morning in an “unfair labor practice strike” following the company’s “refusal to negotiate a first contract in good faith.” More than 40 workers in the clerical unit of the Penske Logistics operation in El Paso, TX, voted to form their union more than a year ago. They have allegedly been stonewalled by the company in their attempt to win a first contract. Members are seeking fair pay, real paid time off, and better benefits, particularly health care. Penske Logistics did not immediately respond to an AutoInformed request for comment.
“The company’s refusal to sit down with workers and hash out a deal with fair pay and benefits so workers can care for their families is unacceptable,” said UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith. “It’s time for Penske to get serious and negotiate in good faith.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, labor issues, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, health insurance, Ken Zino, Penske Logistics in El Paso, Tim Smith, UAW Local 286, UAW Region 8, United Automobile Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America
Leave a comment
UAW Petitions NLRB Over Mercedes Alabama Vote
Over 2000 Mercedes workers voted yes to win their union after an unprecedented, illegal anti-union campaign waged against them by their employer. What that tells us is that in a fair fight, where Mercedes is held accountable to following the law, workers will win their union. All these workers ever wanted was a fair shot at having a voice on the job and a say in their working conditions. And that’s what we’re asking for here. Let’s get a vote at Mercedes in Alabama where the company isn’t allowed to fire people, isn’t allowed to intimidate people, and isn’t allowed to break the law and their own corporate code, and let the workers decide,” the UAW said in a statement to AutoInformed. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, labor issues, litigation, manufacturing, news analysis, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, CAR Center for Automotive Research, EQE and EQS electric vehicles, GLE and GLS SUVs, Ken Zino, mercedes-benz, Mercedes-Benz Plant Tuscaloosa, nlrb, Shawn fain, uaw
Leave a comment
Biden Administration Chinese Trade War Tariffs Start August 1
“Today, I am following through on my commitment to stand up to the People’s Republic of China’s unfair trade practices by issuing a formal proposal to modify the tariff actions,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “The President has directed me to make substantial tariff increases on targeted, strategic products, and this is an important step to carry out that vision. The President and I will continue to fight for American workers, and for our economic future and national security.” Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, economy, electric vehicles, energy, environment, global warming, labor issues, news analysis, transportation
Tagged Ambassador Tai, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chinese EV imports to US, Chinese trade war tariffs, forced labor, Ken Zino, People’s Republic of China, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai
1 Comment
Forced Labor Official Vehicles – BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, VW
“Automakers are sticking their heads in the sand and then swearing they can’t find any forced labor in their supply chains,” Senator Wyden said. “Somehow, the Finance Committee’s oversight staff uncovered what multi-billion-dollar companies apparently could not: that BMW imported cars, Jaguar Land Rover imported parts, and VW AG manufactured cars that all included components made by a supplier banned for using Uyghur forced labor. Automakers’ self-policing is clearly not doing the job. I’m calling on Customs and Border Protection to take a number of specific steps to supercharge enforcement and crack down on companies that fuel the shameful use of forced labor in China.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, bmw group, CCP, forced Chinese labor in Automaker supply chains, jaguar land rover, Ken Zino, oppression of ethnic Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Senate Finance Committee, Senator Ron Wyden Oregon, Volkswagen AG
Leave a comment
UAW Loses Mercedes Alabama Vote
Workers at Mercedes in Alabama narrowly defeated a vote (2642 or 56% against with 2045 for) to join the UAW* in an election that was made public late Friday night. This was in stark contrast to the record contract approved by workers at Daimler Truck or the ratification of the union at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Alabama has been a so-called “right to work state” (for less?) since 2016, meaning that union-membership is not required for employment. By late February, less than two months after Mercedes workers went public with their drive to join the UAW, a majority of them had signed union cards. Whether this is the end of the matter is far from clear. The UAW lost the vote at VW two times prior to its win.* Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, electric vehicles, global warming, labor issues, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, CAR Center for Automotive Research, EQE and EQS electric vehicles, GLE and GLS SUVs, Ken Zino, Mercedes-Benz Plant Tuscaloosa, nlrb, Shawn fain, uaw
Leave a comment
National Labor Relations Board Certifies VW Chattanooga UAW
The National Labor Relations Board has certified the results of the election in which Volkswagen Chattanooga employees voted for representation by the United Auto Workers. The battle with VW management – a later day version of the Ford Rouge battle of the bridge, included disgraceful interference by VW management instead of the neutrality stipulated under US labor laws. The Chattanooga plant has now become the symbol and rallying point of the tough fight for workers’ rights, bringing national or global attention to the struggles and potential of unionizing in the low-wage South. Continue reading
Badass UAW Bargaining Committee Gets Record Daimler Deal
“Tonight, I’m in Charlotte, North Carolina, and I am honored to be joined by the badass bargaining committee representing over 7000 members at Daimler Truck North America,” Fain said. “We’re here tonight to announce a major victory for the members who build Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Thomas Built buses. Today, we reached a tentative agreement with Daimler. What started thirty-two years ago this month at the Mt. Holly plant, when the courageous 17-day strikers stood up and won a historic, first of its kind agreement, has come full circle. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, financial results, labor issues, manufacturing, mobility company, people, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Daimler Truck North America, Daimler Truck UAW contract, Ken Zino, Shawn fain, Walter Reuther
Leave a comment
Canadian Government Halts Teamsters Canada Freight Strike
Major automakers such as Ford Motor, General Motors, Honda, Stellantis and Toyota assembling vehicles in Canada or shipping engines and various other components to the United States got a reprieve late today as a previously reluctant Canadian government intervened in a railroad freight strike.
“I’ve directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to assist the parties in settling the outstanding terms of their collective agreements by imposing final binding arbitration,” said Canadian Labor Minister Steve MacKinnon at a press conference. Continue reading →