Category Archives: labor issues

Bidenomics and the State of the Union

Once again President Biden took on the failed economic polices of the party of no hope, aka Republicans, and the former mis-administration disaster that he inherited in his State of the Union address last night. Nowhere is the contrast between good public policy and the republican politics of hate more evident than the ongoing recovery from the pandemic.

During an inspiring campaign speech that lasted more than an hour, Biden addressed – among other things – our economy. “I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history. And we have. It doesn’t make the news but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. … America’s comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down, investing in all Americans to make sure everyone has a fair shot … I inherited an economy that was on the brink,” Biden said. Continue reading

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Toyota Cleans Daihatsu House Over False Tests

“President-to-be Inoue has for many years been working on structural reform of Toyota’s Latin American business, including a renewed regional management system involving Brazil and Argentina. Despite the many difficult decisions he has had to make, he is a leader who has moved reforms forward by implementing thorough dialogue with front-line members. Utilizing this experience, he will lead the revitalization of Daihatsu as the person responsible for ‘on-site management,’ Executive Vice President-to-be Kuwata will promote corporate cultural and organizational reform initiatives by leveraging his experience in human resources and on-site management,” Toyota said. Continue reading

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US Transportation Sector January Unemployment Flat

Unemployment in the transportation sector was higher than overall unemployment. BLS reports that the US unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, in January 2024 was 4.1% or 0.6 percentage points below the transportation sector rate. Seasonally adjusted, the U.S. unemployment rate in January 2024 was 3.7%, as the Federal reserve continues its indefensible ideological, anti-data tight money policy (the highest interest rates in two decades!) with little or lately no inflation in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading

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Donald Trump is a Scab – UAW Endorses President Biden

“This November, we can stand up and elect someone who wants to stand with us and support our cause. Or we can elect someone who will divide us and fight us every step of the way,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “That’s what this choice is about. The question is, who do we want in that office to give us the best shot of winning? Of organizing. Of negotiating strong contracts. Of uniting the working class and winning our fair share once again, as our union has done so many times in our nation’s history. We need to know who’s going to sit in the most powerful seat in the world and help us win as a united working class,” said Fain. Continue reading

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Some VW ID.4 EVs Qualify for Full Federal Tax Credit

Volkswagen Group of America said today that  model year 2023 ID.4 compact SUVs with SK On battery components and model year 24 Volkswagen ID.4 models when released with SK On components placed in service in 2024 are eligible for the full $7500 Federal Tax Credit* on a purchase by a qualifying purchaser. Model year 2023 ID.4 vehicles with LG components do not qualify. During 2023, the ID.4 was the fifth best-selling EV in the US market. Continue reading

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Ford Cuts F-150 Lightning Production. Ups Bronco and Ranger

“We are taking advantage of our manufacturing flexibility to offer customers choices while balancing our growth and profitability. Customers love the F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling EV pickup,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley, who last year was boasting about his ability to increase prices on the Lightning. “We see a bright future for electric vehicles for specific consumers, especially with our upcoming digitally advanced EVs and access to Tesla’s charging network beginning this quarter,” Farley claimed.

Ford of course is hemorrhaging red ink in it’s EV business as Tesla (Cybertruck), GM (Chevy, Cadillac Lyric SUV, GMC, Hummer) and Stellantis – (electrified Jeeps) increase theirs. Ford’s EV business – Model e – lost $1.3 billion on electric vehicles even though it reported 44% higher shipments of electric vehicles, and 26% revenue growth during Q3 of 2023. Continue reading

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GM Takes UAW Contract Costs in Stride. Ups 2024 Dividend

“We are finalizing a 2024 budget that will fully offset the incremental costs of our new labor agreements and the long-term plan we are executing includes reducing the capital intensity of the business, developing products even more efficiently, and further reducing our fixed and variable costs,” said Mary Barra, GM Chair and CEO. Continue reading

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Connected Technicians at Nissan Speed Repairs

“TECH LINE did a great job of walking me through the process. They made sure we went through it together and everything went smoothly,” said Skyler Petrille, Nissan master technician at Mossy Nissan El Cajon just outside San Diego. “It’s super cool when Nissan invests in tools to help make our work easier, better and more efficient.” Continue reading

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Honda Seat Belt Recalls on 2023-24 Accord and HR-V models

These Accord cars and HR-V SUVs fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, “Occupant Crash Protection,” 209, “Seat Belt Assembles,” and 210, “Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages.” More than 300,000 vehicles are involved because of a defective part made by Joyson Safety Systems in Mexico. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Raises Pay of US Plant Workers to Resist UAW

Volkswagen of America said today it will increase the pay of its non-union Chattanooga assembly plant workers by 11%. In what is clearly a defensive move against the reformed and increasingly successful United Auto Workers union in the US, which … Continue reading

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UAW Sweep – Stellantis Contract Approved by Members

“The members have spoken. After years of cutbacks, months of our Stand Up campaign, and weeks on the picket line, we have turned the tide for the American autoworker,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “The Stand Up Strike was just the beginning. The UAW is back to setting the standard. Now, we take our strike muscle and our fighting spirit to the rest of the industries we represent, and to millions of non-union workers ready to Stand Up and fight for a better way of life.” Continue reading

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State of Michigan UAW Employees Approve 2024 Contract

State of Michigan UAW employees have approved the 2024 wage re-opener for the fiscal year 2024 by a significant 95% yes vote, the UAW said today. Local 6000 negotiated a 5% wage increase, a $2250 bonus, which is the first bonus ever received, and language to adjust wages due to market conditions, retention, and recruitment for the Human Services and Administrative Support Units. Continue reading

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UAW Freeloaders – Hyundai Ups Wages of US Factory Workers

Hyundai today announced wage increases for its production team members at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia. HMMA has been producing vehicles in Montgomery, Alabama since 2005. HMGMA, Hyundai’s EV-dedicated plant in Bryan County, Georgia, is scheduled to begin production in early 2025. In a move mirroring similar ones by non-unionized Toyota Motor and Honda in the US following the UAW Detroit Three contract sweep, wages will increase ~25%. There are ~ 4000 production workers at HMMA. Continue reading

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Unifor and Stellantis Contract Ratification in Process

Unifor said its bargaining team met all of its priorities in negotiations and obtained an historic wage package, stronger pensions, protections for autoworkers in the EV transition, and secured investments to lock in a pattern agreement for all Canadian autoworkers. Continue reading

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UAW October Sweep – GM and UAW Tentative Agreement

“GM is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the UAW that reflects the contributions of the team while enabling us to continue to invest in our future and provide good jobs in the US,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra, just minutes ago. Continue reading

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