Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: French workers vote against blowing up plant as long as their demands are met]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/21/report-french-workers-vote-against-blowing-up-plant-as-long-as/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/21/report-french-workers-vote-against-blowing-up-plant-as-long-as/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/21/report-french-workers-vote-against-blowing-up-plant-as-long-as/#commentsFiled under: ,



Workers at French car parts maker New Fabris (its main clients include Renault and Peugeot-Citroen) have voted down immediate plans to explosively send the roof of their plant into the troposphere, as long as talks with aides to Industry Minister Christian Estrosi are in the works. It seems that the workers, part of the CGT union, are demanding higher redundancy payouts as nearly 370 of them have lost their jobs following the collapse of the automotive sector.

Gas canisters had been placed around the factory to facilitate the pending pyrotechnics, but they have since been moved. Christian Paupineau, a delegate of the CGT union, told Reuters that the talks must be forthcoming. "There has to be significant progress. The canisters are being stored and kept under surveillance and they can be re-installed at any time," he added.

The threats to blow up factories is a relatively new tactic for French workers - employees used to vent frustration by taking their managers hostage (aka "bossnappings") until their demands were met. Union representatives are due to meet with the factory workers on Thursday... assuming nobody blows their lid in the meantime.

[Source: Reuters | Image: Alain Jocard/Getty]

REPORT: French workers vote against blowing up plant as long as their demands are met originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Christian PaupineauChristianPaupineauCitroenExplosionFrancenegotiationsNew FabrisNewFabrisPeugeotRenaultStrikeThreateningWorkersTue, 21 Jul 2009 18:27:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: UAW agrees to ban strikes?(!)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/29/report-uaw-agrees-to-ban-strikes/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/29/report-uaw-agrees-to-ban-strikes/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/29/report-uaw-agrees-to-ban-strikes/#commentsFiled under: , ,



According to a post on The Detroit Bureau, a key stipulation in the tentative contract reached between the United Auto Workers and Chrysler is that the union's right to strike will be all but eliminated for at least the next few years.

As quoted in the story, Harley Shaiken, a labor relations specialist at UC-Berkeley, notes that the so-called "no strike" portion of the agreement was arrived at "in the context that it will take anywhere from three to five years for this company to recover." According to TDB, the provisos of the bridge loan means that a strike would be viewed as a default on the agreement, including any local strikes.

The same contract apparently calls for binding arbitration (instead of strikes) on financial issues for any contract arrived at in 2011, and the same arrangement will be in effect in 2015 if Chrysler still owes money to the Treasury Department.

The contract goes in front of the UAW's 28,000+ members for a vote today. Click on the link below for more details.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau | Source Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

REPORT: UAW agrees to ban strikes?(!) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Auburn HIllsAuburnHillsbailoutbridge loanBridgeLoanChryslercontractHarley ShaikenHarleyShaikenlabor relationsLaborRelationsnegotiationsThe Detroit BureauTheDetroitBureauUAWUnionUnited Auto WorkersUnitedAutoWorkersWed, 29 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Fiat's Marchionne could replace Nardelli as Chrysler CEO in management shake-up royale]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/report-fiats-marchionne-could-replace-nardelli-as-chrysler-ceo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/report-fiats-marchionne-could-replace-nardelli-as-chrysler-ceo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/report-fiats-marchionne-could-replace-nardelli-as-chrysler-ceo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you were surprised by the "resignation" of GM chief Rick Wagoner late last month, get used to the idea. Chrysler reportedly has some major management changes in store as well, including a new seven-member executive board including representatives from Fiat and the Obama administration's automotive task force. But while Bob Nardelli may stay on to chair that board, Chrysler's next CEO may not even be American. Sources close to the ongoing negotiations between Chrysler LLC and the Fiat Group suggest that part of the new arrangement could see Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionnne taking the top job at the Detroit automaker with which he's jumping into bed.

Sound crazy? Not as crazy as you might think. The architect of Fiat's impressive turn-around from a struggling conglomerate into one of Europe's biggest automakers, Marchionne is a Canadian citizen and was educated just a hop, skip and a jump away from Detroit in Windsor, Ontario. Further, he holds court twice a month at the suburban Chicago offices of Fiat's agricultural subsidiary, Case New Holland. Obama has publicly praised Marchionne's management, which could see him take a hands-on approach to running the two allied companies similar to how Carlos Ghosn, another highly rated European automotive executive, runs Nissan and Renault.

Chrysler and Fiat have until the end of the month to iron out a plan, but it may be more complicated than straight-up bilateral negotiations, as several third parties also figure into the mix. First is Cerberus Capital Management, which owns a majority stake in Chrysler at the moment. Next up is Daimler, which is still locked in negotiations with Cerberus to offload its remaining stake in Chrysler. After throwing in representatives from the United Auto Workers, some of America's biggest financial institutions (many not faring much better than Chrysler themselves) hold several billions in the company's debt. Sure, Marchionne may get the job, but he's going to have one heck of a time getting all this sorted out.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

REPORT: Fiat's Marchionne could replace Nardelli as Chrysler CEO in management shake-up royale originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceochief executivechief executive officerChiefExecutiveChiefExecutiveOfficerchryslerchrysler ceochrysler fiatchrysler managementChryslerCeoChryslerFiatChryslerManagementfiat chryslerFiatChryslermarchionneNardellinegotiationssergiosergio marchionneSergioMarchionneMon, 13 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Tuesday deadline for Chrysler Canada to make CAW deal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/29/canadian-govt-sets-tuesday-deadline-for-chrysler-to-make-caw-de/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/29/canadian-govt-sets-tuesday-deadline-for-chrysler-to-make-caw-de/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/29/canadian-govt-sets-tuesday-deadline-for-chrysler-to-make-caw-de/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



After declaring that the deal GM struck with the Canadian Auto Workers union wasn't nearly good enough, Chrysler has threatened to pull out of Canada if cannot come to an agreement with the CAW by Tuesday, March 31. Making matters even more pressing is the fact that the Canadian government has set the same deadline for Chrysler's Canadian operations to receive government money. If the CAW and Chrysler don't agree on something, the Canadian treasury closes up the vault.

As of Friday, the two sides were still $12-per-hour away from a deal. Chrysler says it needs a $19-per-hour reduction in labor costs, the CAW says its workers are more efficient than their American counterparts at a $7-per-hour drop. The CAW also claims that Chrysler's negotiators would appear to agree to certain things, and then return to the table with a different set of demands. The theory is that chaperon Cerberus is overruling the negotiators' positions.

Chrysler's response is "Although we made progress toward 'closing the gap', significant issues related to the existing 'pattern' remain on the table. These are not normal business circumstances and all Chrysler constituents have been asked to 'break pattern.'" As for the Canadian government, it has said it "isn't married" to the Tuesday deadline, but it's obvious they don't plan to stand around with a bag of money indefinitely. Hat tip to Dan

[Source: CBC News]


Tuesday deadline for Chrysler Canada to make CAW deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadacanadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawchryslerchrysler canadaChryslerCanadamanufacturingnegotiationsontarioplantstorontounionunionsSun, 29 Mar 2009 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Chrysler considering pulling out of Canada]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/18/report-chrysler-considering-pulling-out-of-canada/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/18/report-chrysler-considering-pulling-out-of-canada/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/18/report-chrysler-considering-pulling-out-of-canada/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



According to The Canadian Press, Chrysler may elect to pull all manufacturing operations out of Canada if it cannot come to an agreement with the Canadian Auto Workers by month's end. The embattled automaker is looking negotiating with the CAW in part to reduce wages from an average of $76 to $57, and as part of a contingency plan/ bargaining chip, it is reportedly architecting a wholesale pullout from America's northern neighbors.

The pullout would jeopardize some 10,000 jobs at the company's two plants in Ontario and another facility in Toronto. It would also mean that production would have to shift (or end) for a number of key Chrysler products, including the company's minivans (and Volkswagen's Routan), as well as the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger. The likely alternatives, say analysts, would be to push minivan production back to the St. Louis plant that produced them up until last year, and potentially move the LX-platform cars to facilities in Michigan or Mexico,

For its part, Chrysler is looking for more concessions from the CAW than was recently given to rival General Motors last week. That labor agreement reportedly cut labor costs by around $7 an hour - far short of what Chrysler says it needs to return to profitability. Part of those concessions could come in the form of benefit cuts, as in several areas CAW employees enjoy even better benefits than their UAW counterparts. According to The Canadian Press, CAW workers receive a maximum of six weeks paid vacation (versus five for UAW workers), as well as "substantially more break time per shift." Of course, the automaker's benefit costs are kept down because of Canada's socialized medicine.

If Chrysler does decide to pull its manufacturing base out of Canada, it could risk a countrywide consumer boycott, so watch for Auburn Hills to tread carefully as it negotiates with CAW officials. Either way, expect some sort of resolution by month's end, lest it risk passing deadlines for the further $2.3 billion in aid it expects. Top tip, LIP!

[Source: The Canadian Press via Wheels.ca | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

REPORT: Chrysler considering pulling out of Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Auburn HillsAuburnHillsCanadian Auto WorkersCanadianAutoWorkersCAWChryslerNegotiationsOntarioTorontoUAWUnionWed, 18 Mar 2009 09:56:00 EST<![CDATA[GM/UAW concession talks commence]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/gm-uaw-concession-talks-commence/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/gm-uaw-concession-talks-commence/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/gm-uaw-concession-talks-commence/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

To ensure long-term viability, General Motors has pledged an arm and a leg (and maybe an eye) to satisfy conditions imposed by the federal government after the automaker received billions in taxpayer-funded loans. In addition to reducing debt and condensing the number and type of vehicles it produces, GM has promised to revamp labor contracts -- not an easy task. With that in mind, GM is entering historic talks and negotiations this week with the United Auto Workers, bondholders, dealers and others to help transform the automaker into a lean and profitable company.

It's a monumental task, but GM needs to undertake serious financial concessions to implement their restructuring plans. These include eliminating up to 31,000 jobs, closing down nine assembly plants, shutting 1,750 dealerships, and possibly eliminating the Saturn brand. Of course, they also have to renegotiate the 2007 UAW labor contract with GM. The UAW has resisted wage and benefit cuts, but without union compromise GM could be forced to file bankruptcy... something none of the players wants to see happen.

[Source: Detroit News]

GM/UAW concession talks commence originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ConcessionscontractcutsGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMlayoffnegotiationssaturntalksUALUAWTue, 06 Jan 2009 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Officially Official: Ford picks Tata as preferred bidder for Jaguar/Land Rover]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/officially-official-ford-picks-tata-as-preferred-bidder-for-jag/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/officially-official-ford-picks-tata-as-preferred-bidder-for-jag/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/officially-official-ford-picks-tata-as-preferred-bidder-for-jag/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Previous rumors that Indian automaker Tata was chosen by Ford from among a group of bidders to buy Jaguar and Land Rover have proven to be true, as both Tata and Ford announced earlier today that they have moved into advanced negotiations on the sale of the two British marques.

Although both companies were quick to point out that there are still a number of steps before the deal is finalized, informed insiders have confirmed that the two competing bidders, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and One Equity Partners LLC, have effectively been rejected in favor of Tata.

Factory workers at Jaguar and Land Rover in England were reportedly informed shortly before the announcement went public. Ford, the biggest seller of automobiles in the UK, reportedly wants the new owner of Jaguar and Land Rover to retain the bulk of their existing 15,300-strong British work force, and Jaguar's principal union has expressed its preference for Tata.

Although Ford needs the cash injection from selling off its subsidiaries, the automaker is anticipated to pursue a similar relationship with Jaguar and Land Rover that it maintains with Aston Martin: continuing to supply components, including engines, even after the divisions are sold off.

Follow the jump to read the official statement from Ford of Europe and PAG chairman Lewis Booth.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Continue reading Officially Official: Ford picks Tata as preferred bidder for Jaguar/Land Rover

Officially Official: Ford picks Tata as preferred bidder for Jaguar/Land Rover originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>confirmedfordjaguarland roverLandRovernegotiationssoldtataThu, 03 Jan 2008 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Bertone sold to Gruppo Prototipo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/02/bertone-sold-to-gruppo-prototipo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/02/bertone-sold-to-gruppo-prototipo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/02/bertone-sold-to-gruppo-prototipo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Only days before heading to bankruptcy court, Italian engineering firm and carrozzeria Bertone revealed that it was about to pull a last-minute trick out of its sleeve in an announcement later that day. But when the announcement didn't come, the industry was left wondering if, after 95 years in business, Bertone was about to slip away.

The company's chairwoman and family scion Lili Bertone, however, announced last night that her company would be sold to Gruppo Prototipo chief Domenico Reviglio. Likewise based in Turin, Gruppo Prototipo focuses on testing pre-production vehicle prototypes. It owns the famous Nardo high-speed test facility, and since the late '90s has been the sub-contractor for most of the Fiat Group's testing requirements.

The announcement came as a surprise to the Italian business community, which widely believed negotiations with business mogul Gianmario Rossignolo were near conclusion. Previous negotiations with Fiat had fallen through, and Bertone has a workforce of 1,300 to support despite the lack of contracts to sustain the company. The Italian government, meanwhile, has opted to extend the two-year financial protection it had granted Bertone for an additional two months.

[Source: Italiaspeed]

Bertone sold to Gruppo Prototipo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bertonegovernmentgroupgruppoitaliannardonegotiationsprototipoprototypepurchasedrossignolosignedsoldWed, 02 Jan 2008 12:27:00 EST<![CDATA[UAW will deal with GM first in negotiations]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/uaw-will-deal-with-gm-first-in-negotiations/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/uaw-will-deal-with-gm-first-in-negotiations/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/uaw-will-deal-with-gm-first-in-negotiations/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contract talkscontractsContractTalksgmlabornegotiationsstrikeuawFri, 14 Sep 2007 10:58:00 EST