Category Archives: labor issues

Two-Faced UAW Endorsement of Trump’s Tariff Wars

Posted on 27 March 2025 by Ken Zino

Late yesterday the UAW issued a complicated and nuanced endorsement of king Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on the auto industry. The 25% tariff covers cars and car parts or components imported into the United States. They are planned to take effect on 3 April, Trump decreed yesterday. Simply put roughly half of all vehicles sold in the United States are imported. Furthermore, ~60% of the parts used to assemble vehicles in the country are imported. Continue reading →

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Trump Chaos – Voters Support Park and Forest Services

Posted on 28 February 2025 by Ken Zino

As part of recent budget cuts mandated by the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, aka Trump Chaos 2.0, the U.S. National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service laid off more than 3000 workers across the country. From park rangers and environmental educators to locksmiths and trail maintenance and wildfire prevention workers, the layoffs impacted a wide-ranging group of workers.

However, new polling from Data for Progress* finds that strong, bipartisan majorities of likely voters hold favorable views of the U.S. National Park Service (75%) and U.S. Forest Service (74%). Continue reading →

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FAA to Increase Air Traffic Controller Trainee Hiring

Posted on 27 February 2025 by Ken Zino

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced a new plan to increase the hiring of air traffic controllers. This announcement followed a tour of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center after a series of disastrous and fatal incidents under the unfriendly skies of Trump 2.0.

“Today’s visit reaffirmed how being an air traffic controller is one of the best, most rewarding jobs in America, and that the next generation at the Academy is the best in the world. I witnessed firsthand the dedication, skill, and rigor that our future air traffic controllers bring to their training and the urgent need to do all that we can to recruit more people to join in our shared mission of safety in our skies,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. Continue reading →

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Defends Auto Industry

Posted on 15 January 2025 by Ken Zino

“To grow Michigan’s economy and fight for the auto industry, I’ll work with anyone who’s serious about solving problems in Lansing or DC,” said Governor Whitmer. “Right now, there’s an ongoing, global competition between Michigan, China, and other states to build the future of the auto industry. To make sure we win, we need commonsense, bipartisan tools that create good-paying jobs and bring supply chains home. We must also find a fiscally responsible, sustainable solution to fix the damn roads work with our Canadian neighbors to ensure tariffs don’t lead to higher costs for families and businesses. Together, let’s create Michigan jobs, fix Michigan roads, and grow Michigan’s economy. The road ahead is bright, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.” Continue reading →

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Census Bureau – Varying Veteran Employment Outcomes

Posted on 14 January 2025 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Census Bureau today released an expanded version of Veteran Employment Outcomes (VEO), an experimental data product showing earnings and employment outcomes for veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

“Coverage includes labor market outcomes one, five and 10 years after discharge, by military occupation, rank, demographics, industry and geography of employment. Among the findings, veterans with more specialized military training and work experience had higher civilian earnings and employment rates than infantry and combat veterans,” Census said. Continue reading →

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Significant 2024 Automotive Stories and Trends

Posted on 1 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Once again at the beginning of 2025 AutoInformed notes – matter-of-factly – that its vision is 20-20 on the consequences of long past occurrences. However, in the here and now our perception is cloudy. We do not have the advantages of historians re-assessing events years later with help from other news outlets, blogs, letters, memoirs, magazines and whatever new forms of expressed thought emerge. Thus far the most valued revisions and nuanced interpretations appear in books and essays after more documents and perspectives surface from the players or perpetrators engaged in them. These are not yet available, and under Trump 2.0 they would likely be banned anyway. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Settles – Union Jobs Safe Until 2030

Posted on 24 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen AG (VOW.F) and its IG Metall* and Works Council employee representatives for Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles and Group Components as well as its Audi and other brands have concluded a joint agreement – dubbed ‘Zukunft Volkswagen’ (Future) – that guarantees jobs as it reduces production capacities at Volkswagen AG’s German locations. Ultimately, but not now, the workforce will be cut by more than 35,000 at Volkswagen’s German locations by 2030. This includes a newly formulated “job security plan” through to 2030 at the troubled automaker.

“Cost savings for Volkswagen AG of more than €15 billion per year in the medium term,” VW said. “Of this, over €4 billion per year will come from the present negotiations on labor costs, structural and production measures and plant utilization. Labor cost effects alone amount to €1.5 billion per year.” However, the capital markets remain skeptical taking a wait and see attitude about VW’s ability to compete with higher quality and less expensive brands. AutoInformed notes that this is a five-year bet on the come line or the promise that material cost savings will be secured. VW stock closed yesterday at €88.85. A year ago on 23 December it was €93.95. Continue reading →

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Battery Electric Vehicle Sales In EU Slumping

Posted on 29 November 2024 by Ken Zino

Roughly half of all European markets saw a drop in battery electric vehicle sales through September 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. There was a slight improvement in Q3.

“This was contrary to consensus market projections. Battery electric vehicle sales in the EU experienced a year-on-year decline of 4% during the first nine months, prompting most OEMs to re-evaluate and rescale their investment plans and strategies towards electrification,” said Vivek Satheesh, a powertrain analyst at the respected  GlobalData consultancy. Continue reading →

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Abgewürgt – Volkswagen German Collective Bargaining

Posted on 23 November 2024 by Ken Zino

The negotiating committees of Volkswagen AG and IG Metall Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt held  negotiations on the 2024 collective bargaining round in Wolfsburg yesterday without reaching an agreement on plant closings or cutting labor costs. However, they did agree to meet again on 9 December 2024. (Read AutoInformed.com on: Large European Job Cuts Coming at Ford, Again, and Pablo Di Si Out at VW Group of America)

“We view it as a positive signal that the employee representatives have shown openness to reducing labor costs and capacity reductions. However, the counter-proposal they submitted must be judged on whether it creates both sustainable financial relief for the company and offers clear prospects for the workforce,” said Arne Meiswinkel, lead negotiator at Volkswagen AG. “For Volkswagen AG, the sustainable achievement of financial targets remains crucial in order to ensure competitiveness in an extremely challenging phase for the German automotive industry,” said Meiswinkel. Continue reading →

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Large European Job Cuts Coming at Ford, Again

Posted on 20 November 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today its restructuring plans to create a badly needed more “cost-competitive structure.” The main focus is the health of Ford’s passenger vehicle business in Europe, where it incurred significant losses for years. Ford is also lagging in the European shift to electrified vehicles, and new competition – especially Chinese – has been disruptive. Through Q3 of 2024, Ford sales are down ~18% in Europe. Continue reading →

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NLRB Rules Against Anti-Union Captive-Audience Meetings

Posted on 13 November 2024 by Ken Zino

The National Labor Relations Board today issued a decision in Amazon.com Services LLC, ruling that an employer violates the National Labor Relations Act by requiring employees under threat of discipline or discharge to attend meetings in which the employer expresses its views on unionization. Members Prouty and Wilcox joined Chairman McFerran in issuing the decision. Member Kaplan – a Trump appointee – dissented. Continue reading →

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Trump Presidency Effects on Auto Industry – All Bad?

Posted on 6 November 2024 by Ken Zino

After the election of Donald Trump, Jeff Schuster, Vice President Research Automotive at the GlobalData* consultancy, offered thoughts some of the changes expected in the US automotive industry from Trump 2.0. Fasten your safety belts! AutoInformed thinks it’s going to be a bumpy job, climate and economy threatening ride.

“Automotive is one of the sectors that could see a significant mid-term impact from the new Trump presidency in the areas of Trade, Electric Vehicle Transition and Regulations, “said Schuster this morning. Continue reading →

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U.S. International Trade Deficit Up in September

Posted on 5 November 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $84.4 billion in September, up $13.6 billion from $70.8 billion in August, revised. As the economy continues to expand, consumers are buying more raising the deficit. The news comes on Election Day where under new Trump Administration – if it returns – proposed tariffs by Trump will cost consumers billions upon billions of dollars, send the cost of living soaring and hurt the economy overall. Trumpa-nomics 2 the sequel: Tanking the Economy Again. Continue reading →

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Stellantis Q3 2024 – Shipments and Revenues Plunge

Posted on 31 October 2024 by Ken Zino

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA) said today that during Q3 2024 net revenues of €33.0 billion were down -27% compared to Q3 2023 as consolidated shipments of 1,148,000 were down 279,000 or -20% year-over-year. Stellantis also confirmed its diminished 2024 financial guidance, which was updated on September 30, 2024.*

“While Q3 2024 performance is below our potential, I’m pleased with our progress addressing operational issues, in particular U.S. inventories, which have been reduced meaningfully and are on track for year-end targets, as well as stabilization of U.S. market share. In Europe, stringent quality requirements delayed the start of certain high-volume products, but with progress resolving challenges we will soon benefit from the significantly expanded reach our generational new product wave brings to 2025 and beyond,” claimed Doug Ostermann, CFO, who replaced Natalie Knight earlier this month. Stellantis is also looking to find a successor for CEO Carlos Tavares, who will retire from his seat in 2026.

In what seems to be a “whistling past the graveyard” release appropriate for Halloween, Stellantis put forth yet again its transition plan. Stellantis’ 14 brands are to some degree or other at the heart of the Company’s planned revival/survival with ~20 new products expected this year. Continue reading →

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Tesla Bringing Scab Workers into Sweden to Break Strike

Posted on 24 October 2024 by Ken Zino

One year after the Swedish union IF Metall called for a strike against Tesla, car manufacturer still refuses to negotiate a collective agreement. Moreover, Tesla has taken a rare measure in Europe of importing scabs, flying in staff from other Tesla plants in Europe to replace the striking workers in Sweden.*

“It has been a year of strike at Tesla and Elon Musk’s total disrespect for the Swedish model, which has successfully governed the country’s labor market for nearly 100 years, stands in stark contrast to other multinational companies in the country. It is unacceptable and the striking workers have the full support of the 50 million members of IndustriALL behind them,” said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie today. Continue reading →

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