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Volkswagen workers have voted by a 96% margin to ratify their first union contract.* The UAW contract – the first at major Southern auto plant comes with 20 % wage increases, healthcare cost reductions, job security guarantees, an enforceable grievance procedure, among other things, that make the UAW a formidable rival for wealthy global corporations. The final tally was announced last night.
“Volkswagen workers have moved yet another mountain,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “From having the courage to stand up and form their union, to having the backbone to authorize a strike and hold out for a contract that honors their worth, VW workers are leading the way for the entire labor movement and non-union autoworkers everywhere. Welcome to the UAW family.” Continue reading
Trump Tariff Flops – December Goods Trade Deficit Up $15.7B
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The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced yesterday that the goods and services deficit was $70.3 billion in December, up $17.3 billion from $53.0 billion in November, revised. December exports were $287.3 billion, $5.0 billion less than November exports. December imports were $357.6 billion, $12.3 billion more than November imports. The December increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $15.7 billion to $99.3 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $1.6 billion to $29.0 billion. U.S. manufacturing shed ~72,000 jobs since Trump announced his alleged Liberation Day tariffs last April, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
“The U.S. trade deficit for goods hit a record in 2025 despite Trump’s claim his signature tariffs would reduce it, new data shows. Trump declared the country’s goods trade deficit a national emergency last year and pledged to shrink it as part of efforts to revive U.S. manufacturing. Yesterday’s numbers add to previous data suggesting U.S. companies have generally not brought production back home—all while Trump’s tariff policy is being challenged in a Supreme Court ca se,” The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) said. [The U.S. Supreme Court today in a 6-3 ruling said tariffs that Trump imposed under an emergency powers law were unconstitutional. This also covers so-called “reciprocal” tariffs that he levied. – AutoCrat]
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