Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Suzuki reopens India plant post-riot with police outnumbering workers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/24/suzuki-reopens-india-plant-post-riot-with-police-outnumbering-wo/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/24/suzuki-reopens-india-plant-post-riot-with-police-outnumbering-wo/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/24/suzuki-reopens-india-plant-post-riot-with-police-outnumbering-wo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Maruti Suzuki factory sign in India

Suzuki's plant in Manesar, India builds cars for Australia, specifically its Alto small car. Or at least they were building cars before violent worker riots forced the factory to close. The plant has been idled for five weeks as a result of worker violence that led to the death of one manager and 95 injuries. The riot was spurred over a labor dispute - specifically, a gulf in salaries between temporary workers and their salaried counterparts who earn triple the contract workers' wages.

According to reports, on Tuesday, the factory re-opened with more than 1,200 police officers stationed around the plant. The staff of actual workers at the plant numbers just 75 currently, meaning the police force greatly outnumbers Suzuki employees.

The number of employees will eventually grow to 300, and the officers will run in shifts of 100 at a time, but the initial disparity of workers to police is meant as a show of force to the more than 500 permanent and 500 temporary workers who were found to be involved in a July 18 riot.

As a result off the shutdown, Suzuki lost more then $250 million in potential output. News of the plant's reopening boosted Maruti Suzuki (the Japanese automaker's Indian branch) stock 1.7 percent. Up to this point, the stock had dropped four percent since the riot.

Reports indicate that Maruti Suzuki has fired all workers - permanent and temporary - that it has found to be connected with the riots. The company has also developed its own security force of 100, with another 40 guards specifically hired to protect managers and supervisors.

The plant is currently putting out 150 cars a day - nowhere near the 1,500 to 1,800 capacity, but according to Suzuki officials, output is scheduled to grow slowly.

Suzuki reopens India plant post-riot with police outnumbering workers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto workerslaborlabor strikemanesarmaruti suzukisuzukisuzuki riotworker riotsFri, 24 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20308343/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/24/suzuki-reopens-india-plant-post-riot-with-police-outnumbering-wo/20308343/article-detail.xml 20308343 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/maruti-suzuki-factory-sign_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/maruti-suzuki-factory-sign.jpg <![CDATA[Ex-GM workers in Colombia sew mouths shut in hunger strike [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/ex-gm-workers-in-colombia-sew-mouths-shut-in-hunger-strike-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/ex-gm-workers-in-colombia-sew-mouths-shut-in-hunger-strike-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/ex-gm-workers-in-colombia-sew-mouths-shut-in-hunger-strike-w-vi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

GM Colmotores worker on hunger strike

Seven Colombian men, all former General Motors employees, have sewn their mouths shut as part of a hunger strike that is now in its third week. The demonstrators, stationed outside the U.S. embassy in Bogota, are protesting their termination from the GM Colmotores plant.

As reported by The Toronto Star, the men say that GM fired them after they incurred various debilitating job-related injuries, rather than help them obtain the proper medical treatment. 35-year-old Jorge Parra, speaking on behalf of the group, told reporters (he and the other demonstrators can apparently still mumble through their sewn-shut lips) that the men want compensation for their medical expenses and assistance getting new employment. Parra says that he and his fellow demonstrators are willing to die for their cause.

"I have terrible pains I'm my stomach, my lips are swollen and sore, and I am having problems sleeping... but I will not give up," he said, according to the report.

General Motors responded to the action with a statement saying, "GM Colmotores is respectful of the law and has never put the health or the well-being of its employees at risk."

Full coverage is available at The Toronto Star and a video from the protesters detailing their position is posted below.

Continue reading Ex-GM workers in Colombia sew mouths shut in hunger strike [w/video]

Ex-GM workers in Colombia sew mouths shut in hunger strike [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto unionauto workers strikecolmotorescolombiacolumbiageneral motorsgmgm colombiahunger strikelaborlips sewn shutstrikeMon, 20 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20302713/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/20/ex-gm-workers-in-colombia-sew-mouths-shut-in-hunger-strike-w-vi/20302713/article-detail.xml 20302713 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/gm-worker-mouth-sewn-shut_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/gm-worker-mouth-sewn-shut.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat pondering closure of two Italian plants if American initiative fails]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/fiat-pondering-closure-of-two-italian-plants-if-american-initiat/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/fiat-pondering-closure-of-two-italian-plants-if-american-initiat/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/fiat-pondering-closure-of-two-italian-plants-if-american-initiat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Fiat spent much of 2011 jousting with Italian labor unions over contracts and plant security. The matter was finally resolved in December when Fiat signed new labor agreements, but a sign of Fiat's take on the matter was its departure from Confindustria, an Italian business group, over concerns that group labor agreements were crippling international competitiveness. Some recent comments by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, though, seem to point the company back to loggerheads with labor.

According to a Reuters report, Marchionne said that Fiat might close two of its five Italian plants "if plans to export to the growing U.S. market don't materialize." The plans in question appear to be based on getting Alfa Romeo back to the U.S. market, but the only public news we've had about that is delays and upset dealers. The report didn't say when Marchionne was considering shutting down the plants, but with Alfa's U.S. return timed for next year at the earliest, it seems a bit early for Marchionne to turn into a crapehanger.

Indeed, the report has riled the head of Italy's largest metalworker's union, who called the comments "worrying," cited the failed attempts to get Alfa here and called plans for the brand "weak, overambitious and adventurous."

What's not in question, however, is that Marchionne has to figure out how to get more from Fiat's Italian operations. While Chrysler plants are at capacity, a Bloomberg report put Fiat's Italian factory utilization at 38 percent in the first three quarters of 2011, and said Italian workers produced 30 cars per year on average while Polish workers produced 100, before accounting for model and work disparities. Pinning hopes on Alfa's export possibilities to turn those numbers around strikes us as odd.

Fiat pondering closure of two Italian plants if American initiative fails originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>italian unionsitalylaborsergio marchionneMon, 27 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20179509/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/27/fiat-pondering-closure-of-two-italian-plants-if-american-initiat/20179509/article-detail.xml 20179509 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/fiatitalianfactories_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/fiatitalianfactories.jpg <![CDATA[Costco adds discounted auto parts, accessories and service for members]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/08/costco-adds-discounted-auto-parts-accessories-and-service-for-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/08/costco-adds-discounted-auto-parts-accessories-and-service-for-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/08/costco-adds-discounted-auto-parts-accessories-and-service-for-m/#commentsFiled under:

costco membership cardCostco has been in the car business for years, offering a few vehicles to members at attractive rates. The warehouse chain also sells tires and discounted fuel. Now Costco wants to take its discounting model right to the dealer service bay.

Automotive News reports that Costco has negotiated a 15-percent discount on parts, labor and accessories with select dealerships around the U.S. The move gives those dealers access to Costco's 44 million members, who in turn get a nice break on the cost of parts and labor.

Dealerships typically strive to make enough money in the service department to pay the bills, so this agreement could be very lucrative for retail outlets. Jeff Brandfon of Brandfon Honda in Branford, Connecticut tells AN that the partnership with Costco will result in 500 to 600 customer pay jobs per year. Brandfon's optimism is rooted in statistical proof of Costco's power, as the warehouse chain can point to 250,000 vehicle sales to members in 2010 alone.

Costco adds discounted auto parts, accessories and service for members originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costcodealershipdiscountlaborpartsSun, 08 Jan 2012 18:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20139716/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/08/costco-adds-discounted-auto-parts-accessories-and-service-for-m/20139716/article-detail.xml 20139716 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/costco-card_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/costco-card.jpg <![CDATA[Gingrich says UAW to blame for hobbling U.S. industry]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/31/gingrich-says-uaw-to-blame-for-hobbling-u-s-industry/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/31/gingrich-says-uaw-to-blame-for-hobbling-u-s-industry/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/31/gingrich-says-uaw-to-blame-for-hobbling-u-s-industry/#commentsFiled under:

Newt Gingrich

Proving that he is nothing if not predictable, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich blamed the United Auto Workers for the loss of American manufacturing jobs at a recent campaign appearance. Automotive News reports that Gingrich lauded the BMW factory in Spartanburg, SC, for being "vibrant" and mentioned Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan in a positive light, while blaming the UAW for impeding continuous improvement at domestic automakers. The UAW did not respond to a request for comment, according to the report.

While we wouldn't expect Gingrich to behave any differently towards his political enemies in the union, we will say that the loss of manufacturing jobs is a far more complicated subject than this or any other soundbite can explain. And for all the attention that the auto industry continues to receive from politicians hoping to score points with voters, we remain appalled at how little those on both sides of the aisle actually know about the business.

Gingrich says UAW to blame for hobbling U.S. industry originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jobslabornewt gingrichnewt-gingrichpresidential campaignuawunionunited auto workersSat, 31 Dec 2011 12:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20138016/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/31/gingrich-says-uaw-to-blame-for-hobbling-u-s-industry/20138016/article-detail.xml 20138016 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/newt-gingrich-2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/newt-gingrich-2.jpg <![CDATA[UAW targeting VW and Mercedes for U.S. organizing drive]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/uaw-targeting-vw-and-mercedes-for-u-s-organizing-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/uaw-targeting-vw-and-mercedes-for-u-s-organizing-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/uaw-targeting-vw-and-mercedes-for-u-s-organizing-drive/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Volkswagen Chattanooga

The United Autoworkers Union is struggling - and it is the first to admit it. With its membership dwindling after three decades of workforce cuts by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, the union has pinned its future on organizing one of the transplants. Efforts to convince workers at Japanese-owned plants, like the Nissan factory in Smyrna, Tennessee, have fallen on deaf ears in the past, but there's now hope that the UAW might succeed at one of the newer German-owned plants.

According to Reuters, the union is targeting the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, and the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga. The UAW's strategy reportedly involves seeking assistance from IG Metall, the powerful German labor union that helped the UAW organize a VW plant in Pennsylvania in the 1970s. Reuters says the German union has a vested interest in helping the UAW, in that it does not want non-unionized workers at the German-owned plants in the United States to be able to undercut it on labor costs. If IG Metall can pressure the German carmakers not to oppose the UAW, the American union would have an easier time getting workers to vote for it, or at least that's the thinking.

Yet even with IG Metall's help, the UAW faces a historic challenge in organizing in the South, where the word "union" is regarded about the same as it was during the Civil War. And time is running out, according to the report, which says the UAW has been dipping into its strike fund since 2006.

UAW targeting VW and Mercedes for U.S. organizing drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chattanoogafactoryig metalllabormercedesmercedes-benznissanorganizingplantsmyrnatuscaloosauawunionunited auto workersunited auto workers unionvolkswagenvwFri, 30 Dec 2011 08:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20137251/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/30/uaw-targeting-vw-and-mercedes-for-u-s-organizing-drive/20137251/article-detail.xml 20137251 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/volkswagen-chattanooga-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/volkswagen-chattanooga-opt.jpg <![CDATA[UAW finally ratifies new Ford contract, more details revealed]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/19/uaw-finally-ratifies-new-ford-contract-more-details-revealed/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/19/uaw-finally-ratifies-new-ford-contract-more-details-revealed/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/19/uaw-finally-ratifies-new-ford-contract-more-details-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford Emblem

The United Auto Workers have ratified a new four-year labor agreement with Ford by a two-to-one margin. The deal will see the automaker add 12,000 hourly jobs over the course of the term by bringing some production back into the U.S. from overseas. The agreement will also see Ford invest $16 billion in domestic product development and manufacturing during that time, as well. The automaker says that it will increase production by adding another shift at its Auto Alliance International, Michigan Assembly, Chicago Assembly and Louisville Assembly facilities to prepare for projected increased demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.

Ford has also indicated that the company will move production of the F-650 and F-750 medium-duty commercial trucks from Mexico to its Avon Lake, Ohio facility once that plant stops making the current E-Series. The move will put an end to Ford's 10-year partnership with Navistar International. The two companies currently produces the medium-duty F-Series trucks in Escobedo, Mexico under the Blue Diamond LLC joint venture.

The ratification comes after a few worrisome days when it appeared that Ford could have faced its first strike in decades. Though the company's Chicago Assembly plant rejected the new labor agreement, the UAW Local 600 endorsed the deal earlier this week. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading UAW finally ratifies new Ford contract, more details revealed

UAW finally ratifies new Ford contract, more details revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford labor agreementlaboruawunionunited auto workersWed, 19 Oct 2011 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20085238/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/19/uaw-finally-ratifies-new-ford-contract-more-details-revealed/20085238/article-detail.xml 20085238 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/ford-emblem-628-1319035650_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/ford-emblem-628-1319035650.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler and UAW reach tentative agreement on new contract]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/12/chrysler-and-uaw-reach-tentative-agreement-on-new-contract/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/12/chrysler-and-uaw-reach-tentative-agreement-on-new-contract/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/12/chrysler-and-uaw-reach-tentative-agreement-on-new-contract/#commentsFiled under: ,



Maybe it was the Detroit Tigers decisive win in game three of the American League Championship Series, but something put the United Auto Workers and Chrysler negotiators in the mood to compromise last night. The Detroit News is reporting that the union announced a deal just before 7:00 AM today.

Chrysler is the last of Detroit's traditional "Big Three" automakers to come to terms with the UAW, as negotiations had been rockier than those with the other car companies. Last month Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne accused UAW President Bob King of playing favorites with General Motors, and putting his own political agenda ahead of the interests of union members. The UAW then skipped past Chrysler to negotiate with Ford, reaching an agreement last week.

What effect this gamesmanship had on the contract remains to be seen, however, The Detroit News says that the agreement with Chrysler is expected to resemble those reached with GM and Ford. Those contracts call for replacing wage increases with a revamped profit-sharing system. But the Chrysler deal might have some substantial differences due to Chrysler's weaker financial health, says the report.

Chrysler has 26,000 hourly employees in the U.S., but that number should go up under the new deal. The UAW says the agreement would add 2,100 new jobs by the end of 2015. Other sources told the newspaper that new workers are likely to be paid more, as well, with one of the key provisions of the contract being a raise for second-tier employees, to $19.28 an hour.

Continue reading Chrysler and UAW reach tentative agreement on new contract

Chrysler and UAW reach tentative agreement on new contract originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerlaboruawunited auto workersWed, 12 Oct 2011 10:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20079723/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/12/chrysler-and-uaw-reach-tentative-agreement-on-new-contract/20079723/article-detail.xml 20079723 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/autoscontracttalkschrysler.e12b55ebcd544c7e88769462742be0a8_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/autoscontracttalkschrysler.e12b55ebcd544c7e88769462742be0a8.jpg <![CDATA[UAW, Ford reach tentative agreement [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/uaw-ford-reach-tentative-agreement/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/uaw-ford-reach-tentative-agreement/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/uaw-ford-reach-tentative-agreement/#commentsFiled under: , ,

UAW President Bob King

Ford and the United Auto Workers have agreed to a tentative labor agreement, according to Automotive News. The pact makes Ford the second domestic automaker to come to reach an accord with the labor union, and the deal covers some 41,000 workers. The agreement is expected to be discussed in further detail during separate press conferences held by representatives from the UAW and Ford. While no solid details are available as of the time of writing, Automotive News suggests that the deal may be very similar to the one that General Motors and the UAW recently agreed upon.

That means that we can likely to expect to see Ford planning to add or maintain domestic jobs through a variety of plant investments. Even so, Ford had sought to reduce its labor costs heading into negotiations. Some analysts suggest that Ford pays anywhere from $2-9 more per labor hour than GM or Chrysler once benefits are accounted for. Additionally, Ford has fewer lower-paid workers than either of its two domestic competitors, and the automaker pays those workers more.

Stay tuned for details on the agreement.

UPDATE: Ford has released an official press release (available after the jump) stating that the automaker will add 12,000 hourly jobs in its U.S. manufacturing facilities by 2015. What's more, Ford will invest $16 billion in the U.S. for new vehicles and components by 2015.

Continue reading UAW, Ford reach tentative agreement [UPDATE]

UAW, Ford reach tentative agreement [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford labor agreementlaborlabor agreementuawunited auto workersTue, 04 Oct 2011 08:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20073198/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/04/uaw-ford-reach-tentative-agreement/20073198/article-detail.xml 20073198 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/bob-king-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/bob-king-628.jpg <![CDATA[Report: King pledges UAW to begin organizing transplants in January]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/24/report-king-pledges-uaw-to-begin-organizing-transplants-in-janu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/24/report-king-pledges-uaw-to-begin-organizing-transplants-in-janu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/24/report-king-pledges-uaw-to-begin-organizing-transplants-in-janu/#commentsFiled under:

Bob King

According to Automotive News, UAW President Bob King has his eye on organizing labor forces at the manufacturing facilities of German and Asian automakers here in the States. At this point, it's unclear which automaker or which plant the UAW will attempt to organize first, though King has said that he has sent letters to the CEOs of the transplant automakers informing them of the union's intentions. King says that the UAW is only interested in cooperating to improve operations, and that it will kick off the campaign towards organization in January.

In the meantime, the UAW has called off protests at Toyota dealerships around the country as a gesture of goodwill. The union began picketing the dealerships when the Japanese automaker decided to close its NUMMI assembly plant in Freemont, California after its partner, General Motors, pulled out of the endeavor. (the facility is now in use by Toyota partner Tesla Motors).

Automotive News reports that Toyota says that it will leave it up its workers to decide whether or not organization under the UAW is in their best interest. The company has been building vehicles in the U.S. for about 25 years, and in that time, workers have never sought organization - despite repeated drives by the UAW.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req. | Image: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images]

Report: King pledges UAW to begin organizing transplants in January originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bob Kingbob king uawlabororganizationuawunionFri, 24 Dec 2010 16:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19775199/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/24/report-king-pledges-uaw-to-begin-organizing-transplants-in-janu/19775199/article-detail.xml 19775199 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/bob-king_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/bob-king.jpg <![CDATA[Ford hires U.S. military's virtual soldier as assembly line avatar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/22/ford-hires-virtual-soldier-from-military-as-assembly-line-avatar/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/22/ford-hires-virtual-soldier-from-military-as-assembly-line-avatar/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/22/ford-hires-virtual-soldier-from-military-as-assembly-line-avatar/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Santos
Santos, Ford's manufacturing avatar - Click above for high-res image gallery

Technology is your friend, but no one said it's always going to be not creepy nice to look at. The fellow there next to the Ford Fiesta is named "Santos." He's a U.S. Department of Defense creation working part-time at Ford as a "computerized avatar." His job? To perform "actions in the virtual world that can allow Ford to improve quality, safety and ergonomics in factories before an assembly line is built."

Translation: Santos and his virtual musculoskeletal structure can test assembly line procedures at The Blue Oval, helping production-line engineers organize stations in a manner that maximizes efficiency and worker comfort. We're just waiting for the day when Santos says, "The most efficient way to do this is... to eliminate the humans." Enjoy the gallery of high-res photos below and the video after the jump - while you still can.


Gallery: Santos, Ford's vitual manufacturing avatar


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford hires U.S. military's virtual soldier as assembly line avatar

Ford hires U.S. military's virtual soldier as assembly line avatar originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 May 2010 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarlaborsantossantoshumantechSat, 22 May 2010 09:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19484514/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/22/ford-hires-virtual-soldier-from-military-as-assembly-line-avatar/19484514/article-detail.xml 19484514 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/fordsantos_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/fordsantos.jpg <![CDATA[Rally 'round the family: Ford backs up Chrysler's "weak" assessment of new CAW contract]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/14/rally-round-the-family-ford-backs-up-chryslers-weak-assessm/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/14/rally-round-the-family-ford-backs-up-chryslers-weak-assessm/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/14/rally-round-the-family-ford-backs-up-chryslers-weak-assessm/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



GM just ratified an agreement with the Canadian Auto Workers union, and as soon as it did, Chrysler blasted it for being "weak." Chrysler's complaint was that the CAW didn't offer enough concessions to bring production costs into line with market realities. Now Ford has piped up in Chrysler's corner, saying "We believe the recently negotiated agreement between General Motors Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers will not keep Ford's Canadian operations competitive in today's global economy."

Ford's Canadian labor costs per hour are supposed to be $70 Canadian, about $55 in U.S. dollars. Even though that is the amount that Ford recently just got its American labor costs down to, the company says it will need more savings from up north. GM, which hailed the agreement as promising, hasn't commented on its competitors' assessments, and neither has the CAW.

[Source: Auto News, sub req'd]

Rally 'round the family: Ford backs up Chrysler's "weak" assessment of new CAW contract originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadacawcontractsearningsfinancialsfordlaborlabor costsLaborCostsplantsunionunionsSat, 14 Mar 2009 12:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1487807/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/03/14/rally-round-the-family-ford-backs-up-chryslers-weak-assessm/1487807/article-detail.xml 1487807 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/ford_canada_agrcaw_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/ford_canada_agrcaw.jpg <![CDATA[GM says 17,398 workers took buyout]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/gm-says-17-398-workers-took-buyout/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/gm-says-17-398-workers-took-buyout/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/gm-says-17-398-workers-took-buyout/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

More than one-fourth of GM's 74,000 hourly employees are going to grab the loot and skedaddle. Earlier this year, UAW President Ron Gettlefinger estimated that 15,000 would put their hands out, but another couple thousand decided to hop on the General's money train. The workers are expected to finish their employment by July 1. GM's most recent deal with the UAW means it can replace those folks with lower wage workers and save itself a bundle on payroll. And that will make the job of saving itself that much easier.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

GM says 17,398 workers took buyout originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyoutsgmlaborpersonneluawFri, 20 Jun 2008 08:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1230913/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/06/20/gm-says-17-398-workers-took-buyout/1230913/article-detail.xml 1230913 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/gm_buyout_round_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/gm_buyout_round.jpg <![CDATA[Canadian union calls Chrysler's actions "stupid"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/22/canadian-union-calls-chryslers-actions-stupid/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/22/canadian-union-calls-chryslers-actions-stupid/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/22/canadian-union-calls-chryslers-actions-stupid/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Buzz Hargrove isn't mincing words about his opinion of Chrysler LLC's strategy. Calling the decision to send the Magnum and Pacifica models out to pasture and cut shifts and jobs at the Brampton, Ontario plant "stupid," Hargrove has said the Canadian Auto Workers aren't interested in the type of concessions the UAW recently agreed to. While the UAW is allowing new hires to be given a lower pay level, as well as taking on a health care trust fund, the CAW will be having none of that, according to Hargrove.

Cuts were expected, but Chrysler's recent scaling back is more than necessary, according to Hargrove, who counters that what the company's really trying to do is reduce supply in order to drive up demand and keep prices higher. It sounds like a good way to make the automaker profitable, thinning the lineup and trimming overproduction. The problem, according to The Buzz, is that Chrysler's plan is anathema to the long union tradition of providing jobs that pay well enough to allow a solid middle class life for autoworkers. With the pay cuts, Hargrove says that autoworkers will no longer be able to afford to buy the cars they build. The recent fall of the dollar isn't helping matters, and will likely give Chrysler another point to argue when asking for concessions. The Canadian Auto Workers will begin duking it out with Detroit in July, so expect the rhetoric to become even more heated in the months to come.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Canadian union calls Chrysler's actions "stupid" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM has been chosen as the lead company in the UAW contract renegotiation talks. That means that the UAW will come to a contractual agreement with GM first, and that contract will be used as the template for negotiations with the other two carmakers, Chrysler and Ford.

Of course, that also means that GM becomes the first target of a strike. The UAW's agreements with all three carmakers ends today, September 14th, and Chrysler and Ford have managed to work out extensions. GM, however, has not, and the UAW has told its members to be ready for a strike that could come as early as today.

[Source: Auto News, sub req'd]

Continue reading UAW will deal with GM first in negotiations

UAW will deal with GM first in negotiations originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Big Three automakers' massive pension liabilities are well known. To remove that burden, a fund called a VEBA -- voluntary employee beneficiary association -- has been mooted. Automakers would put an agreed upon sum into the VEBA, after which they would be free from further pension obligations. The UAW would be responsible for administering the fund. Goodyear used that exact setup last year to end a strike with the United Steel Workers.

Goodyear, though, put $1 billion cash into the fund. The automakers have suggested using cash and stock. It's been speculated that GM could need to throw $30 billion into a VEBA to be free and clear, and that's a burden that would be more easily handled with cash and stock. Goodyear's stock increased by 25% after the steel workers agreed to the VEBA, but there are no guarantees that that would happen again with GM, Ford, or Chrysler stock.

To get any of this to work, the UAW will have to agree to the VEBA at all, and then convince members to take the cash and stock option, which would require getting everyone to believe that the stock will appreciate quickly enough and steadily enough to keep pace with disbursements. It is the automakers, however, that are really under the gun. To avoid any chance of a strike, automakers need to come to an agreement with the UAW by September 14. That's the date the current agreement expires, and a strike could occur any time afterward.

[Source: Just Auto, sub req'd]

Stocking up: GM and Ford want to fund health care account with shares originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contractslabormanufacturinguawworkersWed, 05 Sep 2007 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/980731/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/09/05/stocking-up-gm-and-ford-want-to-fund-health-care-account-with-s/980731/article-detail.xml 980731 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/uaw_healthcare_costs_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/uaw_healthcare_costs.jpg <![CDATA[Hyundai unions rise up over yearly bonus]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/06/hyundai-unions-rise-up-over-yearly-bonus/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/06/hyundai-unions-rise-up-over-yearly-bonus/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/06/hyundai-unions-rise-up-over-yearly-bonus/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hyundai's labor union has taken a note from the Teamster playbook and is attempting to strong-arm the automaker. During a ceremony to celebrate the new year, union members ganged up on Hyundai's president and discharged fire extinguishers. The ceremony came screeching to a halt with the president suffering a facial wound in the melee. The hubub arose over bonus pay. Workers were given a bonus equivalent to 100 percent of their normal pay. The extra pay was directly correlated to how close they came to hitting their production target. In this case, 1.62 millon cars was 98 percent of the goal. Nice and tidy, eh? Not so fast.

If labor had managed to eke out that last 2 percent of volume, they would have found 150 percent tucked in their envelopes. Unfortunately, the union isn't acknowledging that the reason for the near miss was their own doing. 2006 was rife with labor unrest for Hyundai. The unions kept striking in an effort to increase pay, while the Won climbed against the dollar, putting Hyundai in a bind between labor's outstretched hand and a vehicle that was suddenly more expensive than its competition. Disregarding the slip in market share, Hyundai's union kept ringing the bell for more pay, all the while forcing losses on Hyundai. Hyundai even lowered the production target to accomodate labor's inability to attain the original number. Hey, we'd love to get paid more for doing less, but demanding a bonus you didn't earn seems counterintuitive to us.

[Source: Digital Chosunilbo]

Hyundai unions rise up over yearly bonus originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Jan 2007 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The political alliances in the Motor City have historically been rather black-and-white, with the UAW lining up alongside Democrats and management favoring the Republicans. Yes, one can find exception to these stereotypes, but the above comes as close as one can to describing 40-some years of voting behavior in one sentence. But the times are changing, and traditional alliances between the political parties and their supporters in the auto industry are increasingly stressed.

Most recently, the heads of the Big Three are said to be getting a bit miffed with the White House after receiving a third postponement of a scheduled meeting with President Bush. Additionally, we've heard recent requests from Ford's Mark Fields for "cooperation" between the automakers and government on health care, which can been seen as a position contrary to that of most conservatives. Bob Lutz has gone so far as to claim that he may vote for Hillary Clinton in 2008 as a means to protest the lack of support from Bush.

Keep in mind that the union isn't exactly getting a lot of support from those who have traditionally been in its corner, either. Dick Gephardt was said to be labor's favorite candidate in 2004, and we all know how far his campaign went.

It would seem as if the auto industry is no longer a priority for most politicians from both parties.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

The political winds may be shifting in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafedemocratsemissionsfuel economygovernmenthealth carehouselaborpresidentrepresentativesrepublicanssenateunionsus governmentFri, 23 Jun 2006 12:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/635420/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/06/23/the-political-winds-may-be-shifting-in-detroit/635420/article-detail.xml 635420 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/us-capital-(resized-250)_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/us-capital-(resized-250).jpg <![CDATA[A UAW-free General Motors: the consequences]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/21/a-uaw-free-general-motors-the-consequences/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/21/a-uaw-free-general-motors-the-consequences/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/21/a-uaw-free-general-motors-the-consequences/#commentsFiled under: ,

George Reisman, professor of Economics at Pepperdine University and author of the book Capitalism: A Treatise on Economics, attempts to answer the question of where would General Motors* be today without the United Auto Workers. Some of his ten conclusions include:

#1. GM management could fire inefficient employees without worrying about a strike, resulting in higher quality vehicles.

#2. GM would be able to use more efficient, lower-cost methods in building their products instead of negotiating it with the union to the point of creating 'phony' jobs to placate the membership.

#6. GM would not be paying $140,000 per employee to leave.

#10. GM workers, without the union benefits, would be motivated to consider saving for the future instead of threatening for more money from an already financially-strapped company.

Hmmm. A bit harsh but perhaps there are some grains of truth in there. Opinions? Shout out in comments.

*Reisman does state his analysis also applies to Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler. He chose GM for his example since it's the largest automaker.

[Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute]

A UAW-free General Motors: the consequences originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Apr 2006 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Auto UnionAutoUnioncontracthealth carehealth care costHealthCareHealthCareCostlaborlabor disputeLaborDisputestrikeUAWUnionsFri, 21 Apr 2006 10:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/610536/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/04/21/a-uaw-free-general-motors-the-consequences/610536/article-detail.xml 610536 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/04/uaw-gm_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/04/uaw-gm.jpg <![CDATA[Is the Delphi delay really good for anyone?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/21/is-the-delphi-delay-really-good-for-anyone/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/21/is-the-delphi-delay-really-good-for-anyone/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/21/is-the-delphi-delay-really-good-for-anyone/#commentsFiled under:

The consensus seems to be that Delphi's decision to once again push back its deadline for a motion to cancel the union contract was a healthy sign. The funny thing is, no one seems to be willing to give any solid reasons that convince us to feel the same way.

Sure, it gives Delphi, the UAW and GM six more weeks to hammer out a deal that hasn't happened in the past four months - if indeed one can be worked out (Wagoner isn't making any promises) - but what does such a deal really mean to the situation? GM can offer up a multi-billion-dollar buyout of the union, but that will simply accelerate the automaker's demise (think of how many new platforms could have been purchased with the coin that GM will drop on this fiasco). And make no mistake; if GM goes down, it will surely take Delphi with it. This is a two-way street.

In the meantime, Delphi continues to bleed cash at the rate of somewhere between $200M and $1B for each month that the situation goes without being resolved. That's money that will come from someone's pockets, or it'll simply add momentum to the toppling process.

The number of outcomes in this situation have essentially been narrowed down to two - GM pulls off a buyout like the Ford/Visteon deal and thereby adds in a bit more forward stick on its own nosedive, or Delphi plays tough and the union strikes. If anyone has any other scenarios, feel free to post 'em, and hopefully the various parties involved will take note. Until them, I think they're just biding their time until there's nowhere else for this situation to go but in the ugliest direction.

Is the Delphi delay really good for anyone? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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