Category Archives: labor issues

15,000 Steelworkers March to EU Headquarters in Brussels

Over the past seven years, more than 80,000 steelworkers lost jobs in the European industry. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unifor Autoworkers Ratify Ford Canada Contract

The new agreement achieved the union’s top priority to secure investment, product and jobs at the Windsor operations and it follows the pattern of financial gains achieved with GM and Fiat-Chrysler. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mexican Senate Approves Labor Law Reforms

The Mexican Senate has unanimously approved an initiative that amends Articles 107 and 123 of the Mexican Constitution, leading the way for what could be a serious advance for workers in the country. This would impact the auto companies doing … Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unifor FCA Autoworkers Ratify Four-Year Deal

Diverse workers at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles attended local ratification meetings on Sunday and voted to ratify a four-year contract that secures both investment and wage improvements for 9,750 *Unifor members Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unions Discuss Transatlantic Organizing

In what could have broad implications for U.S. automakers – particularly those with non-union transplants – German and U.S. union members met in Berlin today to make plans to build power on both sides of the Atlantic through coordinated organizing. It won’t be easy given the prevalence of union-busting in the U.S. even at German companies. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unifor Faces Down FCA – Job and Investment Pattern Upheld

In round two of contract talks with the Detroit Three in Canada, Unifor upheld the pattern at FCA that was established when it took on a belligerent General Motors. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Appeals Court Affirms Right to Organize at Mercedes-Benz

The latest union busting dispute comes at a time when IndustriALL, a growing global coalition of unions representing 50 million members, elected Jörg Hofmann from Germany as President. Hofmann comes from German metalworkers’ trade union, IG Metall, where he is also President. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

India Honda Workers’ Hunger Strike on Week 2

Five fired employees of the Tapukara plant of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) began a hunger strike on 19 September demanding reinstatement of workers and the “withdrawal of false police charges” filed against them. On 26 September, the eighth … Continue reading

Posted in labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wages Rising at New Car Dealerships. Turnover Problematic

During 2015, America’s new-car dealerships created new jobs and provided median weekly earnings of $1,026, which exceeded non-farm, private-sector median weekly earnings of $825 by 24%. Over a five-year period, average compensation across all dealership positions increased steadily at an average annual rate of 3.2%, while median income growth of all positions grew at an average annual rate of 2.6%. Continue reading

Posted in economy, labor issues | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

South African Metalworkers Win 35% Wage Increase

NUMSA declared a dispute with the employers’ group in July. After prolonged negotiations, an agreement was reached and signed on 12 September. This is the first time in nine years that an agreement was reached in the sector without strike action. In 2013, a strike by NUMSA in both manufacturing and components caused major problems for automakers. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Metalworkers Demonstrate in Brazil at Bosch, Correo, Renault, Volvo and WHB Plants. Much Larger National Strike Proposed

On 8 September, leaders of metalworkers unions affiliated to the CNTM and to the CNM/CUT, also affiliated to IndustriALL, announced that they will hold a joint national strike on 29 September. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unifor Picks GM as Target in Canadian Auto Worker Talks

The union, an outgrowth of the Canadian Autoworkers union represents more the 23,000 Canadians workers at the Big Three Detroit automakers, and more than 310,000 members in every major sector of the Canadian economy. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Indian General Strike by Trade Unions Tomorrow

Trade unions in India will take part in a nationwide general strike tomorrow “against the government’s anti-worker policies.” Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Unifor Flings Gauntlet as Ford, Fiat Chrysler Negotiations Open

Talks with General Motors formally began yesterday with GM releasing an aggressive statement that said “As we have underscored for the past two years, GM won’t make any future product decisions for Oshawa Assembly until after these negotiations.” Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Canadian Unifor Opens Talks with Detroit Three This Week

Unifor’s bargaining committee chairperson for GM, Greg Moffatt says that the Buick Regal sedan and the Chevrolet Equinox SUV – strong sellers both – will end of their cycle before a redesign a year from now. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues | Tagged , , | 2 Comments