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[Fiat pondering swallowing rest of Chrysler, US IPO]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/fiat-pondering-swallowing-rest-of-chrysler-us-ipo/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/fiat-pondering-swallowing-rest-of-chrysler-us-ipo/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/fiat-pondering-swallowing-rest-of-chrysler-us-ipo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne with hands on face

At the moment, Fiat is in court with the United Auto Workers, waiting for the justice system to provide some guidance on a fair price for 41.5-percent of Chrysler it doesn't own. Fiat owns 58.5 percent of the company and wishes to buy the remainder, which is owned by the union's VEBA retiree trust, but the Italian company and the UAW are on different sides of the galaxy when it comes to assigning a fair price to that outstanding stake.

Naturally, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is considering his options. A new report in the The Wall Street Journal says one of the scenarios being considered now is - depending on the outcome of the court case - to purchase the 41.5-percent stake and then issue an IPO to recoup some of the cost. About two months ago, Marchionne put the odds of an IPO for a wholly combined Fiat/Chrysler at 50 percent. Even with the WSJ report, it's not clear if those odds have changed.

The current company structure leaves a lot of options as to how a potential IPO could be issued, but it's said that Marchionne is against it, preferring "to be one company," under Fiat, indivisible. If Fiat is finally able to purchase all of the Pentastar, it would get access to Chrysler's war chest, pegged at $11.9 billion at the end of Q3 in 2012, and that money can't come soon enough for a brand taking a beating in Europe and delaying product over cash concerns.

Fiat pondering swallowing rest of Chrysler, US IPO originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerchrysler ipofiatfiat ipoinitial public offeringiposergio marchionneuawunited auto workersvebaWed, 24 Apr 2013 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20548386/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/24/fiat-pondering-swallowing-rest-of-chrysler-us-ipo/20548386/article-detail.xml 20548386 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/fiat-chrysler-sergio-marchionne-concerned_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/fiat-chrysler-sergio-marchionne-concerned.jpg <![CDATA[VW's Browning says TN workers to decide whether they want union]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/04/vws-browning-says-tn-workers-to-decide-whether-they-want-union/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/04/vws-browning-says-tn-workers-to-decide-whether-they-want-union/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/04/vws-browning-says-tn-workers-to-decide-whether-they-want-union/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jonathan Browning

Jonathan Browning, Volkswagen North America CEO, has said that workers at the company's Chattanooga, Tennessee manufacturing facility will decide if they want union representation. Browning made the comment while speaking to reporters at the New York Auto Show, according to Reuters. Browning also made it clear that the United Auto Workers isn't the only option open to employees at the plant.

"If employees vote in favor of formal representation, then it's important to understand that there are a number of alternatives that may or may not include the UAW," Browning said.

Technically, the company hasn't scheduled a vote on unionization at the Chattanooga factory, but Browning says the company is in the early stages of discussions on the matter. The automaker's board has not discussed the topic in an official capacity.

If the workforce does decide to join the UAW, it would be the first foreign-owned plant to do so. The union has been courting plants owned by foreign automakers for years, but has never managed to sway workers.

VW's Browning says TN workers to decide whether they want union originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chattanoogajonathan browninguawunionunited auto workersvwThu, 04 Apr 2013 10:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20527265/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/04/vws-browning-says-tn-workers-to-decide-whether-they-want-union/20527265/article-detail.xml 20527265 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/jonathan-browning-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/jonathan-browning-628.jpg <![CDATA[UAW membership up for third straight year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/01/uaw-membership-up-for-third-straight-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/01/uaw-membership-up-for-third-straight-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/01/uaw-membership-up-for-third-straight-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

UAW President Bob King

The Detroit News reports that the United Auto Workers union has seen membership increase for the third straight year. The organization is now 382,513 members strong, which marks a jump of about 1,800 over 2011. That doesn't include workers who are represented but don't have a contract with the union.

"UAW membership continues on a steady path of recovery, even in the face of concerted attacks on workers and collective bargaining," UAW President Bob King said in a statement.

Even so, the union continues to struggle in its effort to garner the support of workers at manufacturing facilities owned by foreign automakers. The Detroit News reports UAW members were handing out leaflets at the New York Auto Show criticizing Nissan for not allowing the union access to plant workers in Mississippi, and we witnessed the exact same tactic ourselves at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year. King has said that if workers at those facilities aren't unionized, suppliers and new autoworkers won't see their wages increase.

Meanwhile, the UAW said it spent around $9.1 million on "political activities and lobbying" in 2012, up from $300,000 in 2011. The jump was thanks largely to the fact that 2012 was a presidential election year.

UAW membership up for third straight year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob kingnew york auto shownissanuawuaw membershipunited auto workersMon, 01 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20523155/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/01/uaw-membership-up-for-third-straight-year/20523155/article-detail.xml 20523155 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/bob-king-uaw_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/bob-king-uaw.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler fires protest organizer at MI assembly plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/chrysler-fires-protest-organizer-at-mi-assembly-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/chrysler-fires-protest-organizer-at-mi-assembly-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/chrysler-fires-protest-organizer-at-mi-assembly-plant/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Chrysler has reportedly fired a Warren Stamping Plant worker for what the company is calling a violation of its code of conduct. Alex Wassell (left), a 20-year veteran with the automaker, was suspended without pay after he was quoted in an article in The Detroit News. The 63-year-old welder repairman helped organize a demonstration against a new work schedule and was protesting outside the Michigan plant on February 28 when he was interviewed. Chrysler then fired Wassell when the paper published his comments. Wassell, has since filed a grievance and says that he's looking for an amicable settlement between his union and his former employer.

Meanwhile, multiple civil liberties groups have spoken out against Chrysler's decision to dismiss Wassell. Both the National Lawyer's Guild and the American Civil Liberties Union have released statements on the situation, with the ACLU saying "Employees have a right to air their grievances, even if that means a public demonstration or a comments to the media."

According to The Detroit News, Chrysler spokesperson Jodi Tinson said that Wassell was fired for "engaging in activity constituting or appearing to constitute a conflict with the interest of the company."

Chrysler fires protest organizer at MI assembly plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aclualex wasselamerican civil liberties unionamerican lawyers unionchryslerlabor rightsuawunited auto workerswarrenwarren stampingworkers rightsTue, 12 Mar 2013 18:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20499169/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/12/chrysler-fires-protest-organizer-at-mi-assembly-plant/20499169/article-detail.xml 20499169 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/alex-wassell-fired-chrysler-worker-1363186433_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/alex-wassell-fired-chrysler-worker-1363186433.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler's internal documents question Ram quality as workers protest]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/chryslers-internal-documents-question-ram-quality-as-workers-pr/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/chryslers-internal-documents-question-ram-quality-as-workers-pr/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/chryslers-internal-documents-question-ram-quality-as-workers-pr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Ram 1500 - front three-quarter view

Chrysler is reportedly having a hard time ramping up production of its 2013 Ram 1500. According to The Detroit News, only 16 of the 58 trucks built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant during the model's first hour passed final inspection. While quality eventually improved over the course of the day, just over half of the units built on Thursday were approved for shipment. Even with workers ordered to stay late to fix their mistakes, some 1,078 units remained outside the facility with defects. The problem, according to workers at the plant, is morale.

According to the report, Chrysler recently changed the shift schedule at the plant and workers are unhappy with the new situation. The new plan has workers split into three shifts, each covering four 10-hour days. With the shifts staggered, some workers now have to work nights and on Saturdays. Some employees are so upset that they've taken to protesting, though the move isn't sanctioned by the United Auto Workers.

Meanwhile, Chrysler admits there were internal issues with the launch, but that the company was able to contain them. A spokesperson has said "plant quality indicators are getting progressively better."

Chrysler's internal documents question Ram quality as workers protest originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15002013 ram 1500dodge ramramram 1500ram 1500 productionuawunited auto workerswarren truck assembly plantwarren truck plantFri, 01 Mar 2013 10:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20484765/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/01/chryslers-internal-documents-question-ram-quality-as-workers-pr/20484765/article-detail.xml 20484765 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ram-1500-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ram-1500-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford hiring 2,200 salaried US workers this year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/ford-hiring-2-200-salaried-us-workers-this-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/ford-hiring-2-200-salaried-us-workers-this-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/ford-hiring-2-200-salaried-us-workers-this-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



With its influx of popular new products made in the US, Ford Motor Company has announced that it intends to hire 2,200 new salaried workers domestically this year. This is the biggest increase of salaried workers for Ford in the last 10 years, and it is all a part of Ford's contract commitment to the United Auto Workers union to bring 12,000 new jobs to the US by 2015.

There were no specifics as to where in the US these job openings will be, but Ford did reiterate that it will be spending $773 million on equipment upgrades and capacity expansion at six plants located in southeast Michigan; as a whole, Ford is investing a total of $6.2 billion to its US assembly plants over the next couple years. According to recently appointed president of the Americas Joe Hinrichs, the new jobs will be focused on areas such as engineering, manufacturing and computer software. Ford will post its job openings online at careers.ford.com, and it will also use social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to recruit new workers, including military veterans.

Scroll down for more about Ford's planned job growth as well as how to go about applying for said openings.

Continue reading Ford hiring 2,200 salaried US workers this year

Ford hiring 2,200 salaried US workers this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford hiringjoe hinrichsunited auto workersunited auto workers unionus auto productionUS manufacturing increasesFri, 11 Jan 2013 00:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20425715/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/11/ford-hiring-2-200-salaried-us-workers-this-year/20425715/article-detail.xml 20425715 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/ford-assembly-line_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/ford-assembly-line.jpg <![CDATA[UAW urging Chrysler to sell shares to investors]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/10/uaw-urging-chrysler-to-sell-shares-to-investors/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/10/uaw-urging-chrysler-to-sell-shares-to-investors/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/10/uaw-urging-chrysler-to-sell-shares-to-investors/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Chrysler Headquarters

The United Auto Workers union is pushing Chrysler to sell 16.6 percent of its stock to investors in an attempt to establish the value of the shares. The UAW is currently locked in a lawsuit with Chrysler parent company Fiat over how much the Italian automaker should pay to buy shares from the trust fund. Last year, Fiat told the trust it intended to exercise its right to purchase 3.3 percent of the union's shares at issue. But the union contended the 54,154 shares were worth closer to $381 million instead of the $155 million Fiat offered.

Currently, the UAW owns 41.5 percent of Chrysler while Fiat holds 58.5 percent of the company. Currently, it's unclear whether the UAW could force Chrysler to put the shares on the open market. Doing so would be the first step toward a much-anticipated initial public offering. Chrysler has said it will comply with its shareholders agreement, and Fiat has echoed that tune. According to The Detroit Free Press, the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust has declined to comment on the situation.

UAW urging Chrysler to sell shares to investors originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerchrysler ipochrysler sharesfiatinitial public offeringipouawunited auto workersThu, 10 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20424931/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/10/uaw-urging-chrysler-to-sell-shares-to-investors/20424931/article-detail.xml 20424931 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/chrysler-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/chrysler-628.jpg <![CDATA[Judge says GM workers can sue automaker and UAW]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/05/judge-says-gm-workers-can-sue-automaker-and-uaw/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/05/judge-says-gm-workers-can-sue-automaker-and-uaw/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/05/judge-says-gm-workers-can-sue-automaker-and-uaw/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a case that dates back to April 30, 2011, General Motors and the United Auto Workers are being sued by 28 employees at GM's Lordstown, Ohio plant that builds the Chevrolet Cruze. The employees say that when they were hired in October, 2006 they were improperly classified as temporary workers. They were let go six months later, in April, 2007, but then rehired six months after that.

When they were rehired, the workers say they were classified as and paid the same wages as permanent employees with seniority. But in June, 2008 the 28 workers say they were forced to accept being reclassified as temporary workers and take a 40-percent pay cut or be terminated. The attorney for the workers says they should have been paid at the higher rate the entire time. Also, the 28 employees say there were another 22 temporary employees hired at the same time as they were and who were able to earn permanent status, pay and benefits. The employees say the change in pay violated the collective bargaining agreement and that the UAW refused to file a grievance for them. The workers are suing for back pay of between $3 and $4 million, as well as permanent positions and benefits.

GM and the UAW have denied wrongdoing and filed a motion for summary judgment, which would have ended the case. GM hasn't commented, but the UAW claims that the employees didn't exhaust their means of internal resolution and that they filed the case after the end of the statute of limitations had run out. The motion was denied by Judge Benita Pearson, so the case will continue.

Judge says GM workers can sue automaker and UAW originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>general motorsgmlawsuitlordstownuawunited auto workersSat, 05 Jan 2013 15:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20416888/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/05/judge-says-gm-workers-can-sue-automaker-and-uaw/20416888/article-detail.xml 20416888 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/gmuawlordstown_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/gmuawlordstown.jpg <![CDATA[Could Michigan going "Right To Work" status revitalize its auto production?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/14/could-michigan-going-right-to-work-status-revitalize-its-auto/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/14/could-michigan-going-right-to-work-status-revitalize-its-auto/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/14/could-michigan-going-right-to-work-status-revitalize-its-auto/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Midwest has lately been at the center of battles between unions and the politicians contesting them, and the union side hasn't been doing so well. Michigan is the latest rust-belt state to lob a legislative grenade into union ranks, the state governor signing two right-to-work bills that prohibit mandatory union dues in the state's workplaces.

Some context: This isn't like Indiana or Wisconsin, two other nearby states that have recently waged government vs. union battles (unions lost in both states), Michigan is a marquee union haven. It is the birthplace of the United Auto Workers, the richest union in the nation, and has ties to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that still make front page news. It has the fifth-highest union membership of any state, but it has the greatest number of union members by percentage of the population. And as for that fifth-placed membership placing, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2011 the states ahead of Michigan were New York, Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington.

Reaction from union representatives and supporters has, naturally, been damning. More than 12,000 people from Michigan and surrounding states marched outside the state Capitol, the Teamsters president called the bill "shameful" and "divisive," and 260 teachers - members of another powerful union - called in sick on the say of the vote.

Reaction from outside the unions has been mixed: The hope is that the legislation will give Michigan a better chance to compete for corporate dollars now that the specter of compulsory unionization has been removed. But it doesn't change existing union contracts - the current UAW labor agreement with the Big Three expires in 2015 - and it doesn't stop attempts to unionize. Michigan also has other issues like its tax on manufacturing equipment that make it an expensive place to do business. No one is expecting cash to suddenly be funneled back into Michigan in ways it hasn't been for decades, and it will take a few years to gauge the results. The narrative, rather, seems to be more about the future of unions and the momentum turning even more forcefully against them, as opposed to a sudden revival of Michigan's fortunes because of the legislation.

Could Michigan going "Right To Work" status revitalize its auto production? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>james hoffalawlegislationmichiganright to workteamstersuawunited auto workersFri, 14 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20401850/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/14/could-michigan-going-right-to-work-status-revitalize-its-auto/20401850/article-detail.xml 20401850 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/right-to-work-protest-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/right-to-work-protest-628.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler workers fired for drinking back on job against automaker's wishes [w/video] [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/chrysler-workers-fired-for-drinking-back-on-job-against-automake/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/chrysler-workers-fired-for-drinking-back-on-job-against-automake/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/chrysler-workers-fired-for-drinking-back-on-job-against-automake/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chrysler workers drinking on the job

As much as Chrysler would like to "move on," it seems that the story of employees who drink on the job just refuses to die. The latest? According to Fox 2 News in Detroit, the 13 workers who were fired in 2010 after its cameras caught them drinking alcohol and smoking what looks to be marijuana in a park during work hours have been reinstated following arbitration.

Chrysler released the following statement:

"Chrysler Group LLC acknowledges the reinstatement of a number of employees from the Jefferson North assembly plant who were discharged from the company in September 2010 after appearing in a local TV station's story about their off-duty conduct."

While the company does not agree with the ultimate decision of the arbitrator, we respect the grievance procedure process as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement and our relationship with the UAW. Unfortunately, the company was put in a very difficult position because of the way the story was investigated and ultimately revealed to the public. These employees from Jefferson North have been off work for more than two years. The time has come to put this situation behind us and resume our focus on building quality products that will firmly establish Chrysler Group's position in the marketplace."

Clearly, Chrysler isn't pleased with this outcome, and we don't blame them one bit. The automaker declined to comment when Fox asked if the workers received compensation for the two years they were suspended without pay and ultimately fired.

How could an arbitrator possibly side with the fired workers? Much like the automaker itself, we're at a loss for words. A video report from Fox can be seen below.

UPDATE: Chrysler has further responded to this matter by issuing a longer, official statement on its media blog. You can also read the full response below.

Continue reading Chrysler workers fired for drinking back on job against automaker's wishes [w/video] [UPDATE]

Chrysler workers fired for drinking back on job against automaker's wishes [w/video] [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerchrysler workers drinkingdrinking on the jobjefferson northuawunionunited auto workersworkers reinstatedMon, 10 Dec 2012 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20398189/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/10/chrysler-workers-fired-for-drinking-back-on-job-against-automake/20398189/article-detail.xml 20398189 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/chrysler-workers-drinking_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/chrysler-workers-drinking.jpg <![CDATA[UAW trust demands Fiat pay $342M for Chrysler shares]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/uaw-trust-demands-fiat-pay-342m-for-chrysler-shares/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/uaw-trust-demands-fiat-pay-342m-for-chrysler-shares/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/uaw-trust-demands-fiat-pay-342m-for-chrysler-shares/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bob King, UAW president addressing the faithful

Last month, we brought you the latest news in a rather tenuous ordeal between Fiat and the United Auto Workers over the future of the Italian automaker's stake in Chrysler. The union contended that Fiat failed to make an adequate offer for the 3.3-percent stake that was sought. Fiat offered $139.7 million for the shares in July, which the UAW rejected.

We now have word of the union's counter offer of $342 million - more than double what Fiat proposed. According to Reuters, the entity in question is the UAW's healthcare trust, known as Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association, or VEBA, which currently owns 41.5 percent of the American automaker. Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne has voiced his intent to eventually purchase the trust's full 41.5 percent stake in Chrysler as part of a long-term unification plan.

Following the initial offer from Fiat, the trust refused to sell the 3.3 percent share in July, which resulted in a lawsuit brought by Fiat. As part of this counteroffer, VEBA has brought a counter suit, as well as a statement claiming that the initial Fiat offer was "substantially below market value."

VEBA originated from the 2007 auto bailouts, in which retiree medical benefits were shed off into their own entity to facilitate restructuring of the automakers. Rather than taking cash to fund its restructuring, VEBA took the Chrysler stock, which is the center of this current conundrum. According to a spokesperson for the trust, "sale of the called shares at the price calculated by Fiat would constitute a transaction prohibited by federal law." At this time, neither the automaker, the trust, nor the Securities and Exchange Commission have commented on the proposed transaction.

UAW trust demands Fiat pay $342M for Chrysler shares originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bailoutchryslerchrysler stockfiatlawsuitsergio marchionneuawunited auto workersvebaTue, 13 Nov 2012 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20378640/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/13/uaw-trust-demands-fiat-pay-342m-for-chrysler-shares/20378640/article-detail.xml 20378640 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/uaw-boss-bob-king_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/uaw-boss-bob-king.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler gives employees day off to vote]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/06/chrysler-gives-employees-day-off-to-vote/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/06/chrysler-gives-employees-day-off-to-vote/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/06/chrysler-gives-employees-day-off-to-vote/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



SRT president and CEO, Ralph Gilles, is doing his best today to make sure workers at Chrysler are getting to their local polling stations and casting votes. The executive started off the morning by stating on his Twitter feed that, "Chrysler gave its entire work force the day off to Vote Today! Let's go! #America."

Gilles later did his best to clarify the day off for Chrysler workers, tweeting that the United Auto Workers has negotiated having voting day off for its employees for the last 15 years - not only at Chrysler, but for General Motors and Ford employees, too. The voting day holiday was then "logically extended to salaried workers," said Gilles.

While Gilles statements seem politically neutral on the surface, recent flare-ups between he and Donald Trump, as well as some finger-pointing on the part of Chrysler/Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne towards Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, add a bit of heat to the matter. What's more, as UAW members have historically backed Democratic candidates, the move to encourage Chrysler workers to get to the polls could logically be construed as a tacit endorsement of President Barack Obama's bid to hold on to the White House.

In fact, the call to action by Gilles is probably unneeded as far as UAW members are concerned. Reports today indicate that the organization has gone so far as to bus its members (in Michigan at least) to polling places, to make the voting process that much easier.

Chrysler gives employees day off to vote originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerpresidential electionralph gillessrttweettwitteruawunited auto workersTue, 06 Nov 2012 15:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20372308/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/06/chrysler-gives-employees-day-off-to-vote/20372308/article-detail.xml 20372308 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/ralph-gilles-tweet-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/ralph-gilles-tweet-628.jpg <![CDATA[UAW invokes civil rights movement in bid to unionize Nissan plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/uaw-invokes-civil-rights-movement-in-bid-to-unionize-nissan-plan/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/uaw-invokes-civil-rights-movement-in-bid-to-unionize-nissan-plan/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/uaw-invokes-civil-rights-movement-in-bid-to-unionize-nissan-plan/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Nissan Canton

The United Auto Workers continues to pursue the unionization of a foreign automaker's plant in the U.S. and has redoubled its efforts on the Nissan facility in Canton, Mississippi. According to Reuters, the union plans to paint the organization effort as "the civil rights battle of the 21st century." Gary Casteel, one of the UAW's highest-ranking officials in the South has been quoted as saying the civil rights experience was fought in Mississippi. Since 70 percent of the Canton workforce is black, the UAW hopes the civil rights card will bring more votes toward unionization.

It's unclear whether the tactic will resonate with workers as the UAW has had little luck getting a foreign-owned plant to organize over the past 30 years. The union has pressed Nissan especially hard by attempting to unionize the company's Smyrna, Tennessee plant twice. Workers voted against the move both times. UAW President Bob King says that his organization needs to incorporate foreign-owned plants if it intends to survive. The UAW has seen membership slide off to a quarter of its numbers in 1979.

The Canton plant employs 3,900 workers and will soon be home to the next-generation Sentra. According to the Reuters report, the average full-time worker there earns $59,600 per year, with five hours of overtime per week. Veteran UAW workers, meanwhile, bring home $69,500 per year.

UAW invokes civil rights movement in bid to unionize Nissan plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob kingcantoncanton mississippinissansmyrnasmyrna tennesseeuawunionsunited auto workersThu, 02 Aug 2012 10:14:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20291228/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/02/uaw-invokes-civil-rights-movement-in-bid-to-unionize-nissan-plan/20291228/article-detail.xml 20291228 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/nissan-canton_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/nissan-canton.jpg <![CDATA[CAW making progress in drive to unionize Honda in Ontario]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/caw-making-progress-in-drive-to-unionize-honda-in-ontario/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/caw-making-progress-in-drive-to-unionize-honda-in-ontario/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/caw-making-progress-in-drive-to-unionize-honda-in-ontario/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

CAW President Ken LewenzaHonda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston, Ontario, is unique in providing an employee recreation center with an NHL regulation-size hockey arena. But it could soon have another claim to notoriety: The first Japanese auto plant to go union.

According to Ward's Auto, Canadian Auto Workers President Ken Lewenza is bullish on efforts to organize the facility, which builds Honda Civic and CR-V, as well as the Acura MDX and ZDX. "We're getting some enthusiastic and strong support," he told Ward's, "but we're not there yet."

Both the CAW and the United Auto Workers have been trying for decades to organize at one of the Japanese transplant factories, but have met resistance, both from employees as well as the automakers. Lewenza says Honda has devoted "resources and time into keeping the union out," according to the report, including giving employees a handout that the CAW feels misrepresents Honda's wages when compared to unionized Chrysler, Ford and General Motors plants in Canada.

The report says labor talks between the CAW and the Big Three scheduled for September will be crucial for the union, given the resurgent strength of the Canadian dollar. Canada's labor costs are viewed as too high by the automakers, setting the stage for potential conflicts at the bargaining table. Of course, if the CAW could add to its 25,000 member base with Honda's roughly 4,500 Canadian workers, it could only help the union's negotiations.

CAW making progress in drive to unionize Honda in Ontario originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadian auto workerscawhondaken lewenzauawUnited Auto WorkersSun, 01 Jul 2012 14:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20269340/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/01/caw-making-progress-in-drive-to-unionize-honda-in-ontario/20269340/article-detail.xml 20269340 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/ken-lewenza-250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/ken-lewenza-250.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan's Mississippi plant is chief UAW target]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/11/nissans-mississippi-plant-is-chief-uaw-target/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/11/nissans-mississippi-plant-is-chief-uaw-target/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/11/nissans-mississippi-plant-is-chief-uaw-target/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Nissan Altima goes into production in Canton, Miss.

Historically, automotive plants in the South have been impervious to efforts by organization drives by the United Auto Workers. In 2001, the UAW was rejected two-to-one by Nissan workers at its Smyrna, Tenn. plant. And in 2005 and 2007, the UAW failed to get enough interest at Nissan's plant in Canton, Miss.

But the UAW is reportedly ready to give it a go again in Canton. Union officials say the group has been discussing the possibility with workers there, and reactions are not all positive. UAW President Bob King says Nissan officials have been actively trying to dissuade its Canton employees from cooperating with the union by using scare tactics.

"Fear and intimidation should not be part of the equation when workers are deciding whether they want to be represented by the union," King is quoted saying in the Reuters article. "Workers should be able to hear equally from both sides and make a decision for themselves."

In Nissan's defense, a company spokesman says the accusations of intimidation are not true.

If it is to succeed in Canton, the UAW will need to win over the workers, but to do so, it will likely have to overcome Nissan's apparent objections as well as the anti-union attitudes of politicians. Miss. Gov. Ken Bryant has in the past said "he would step in if the UAW tried to organize a plant in the state," Reuters reports.

Nissan's Canton plant builds five models, including the 2013 Altima, which has just entered production last week.

Nissan's Mississippi plant is chief UAW target originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altimabob kingcanton misscanton mississippimississippinissanorganization driveuawunionunionizingunited auto workersMon, 11 Jun 2012 16:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20255872/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/11/nissans-mississippi-plant-is-chief-uaw-target/20255872/article-detail.xml 20255872 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/2013-nissan-altima-production-starts_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/2013-nissan-altima-production-starts.jpg <![CDATA[UAW membership climbs 1.1% thanks to automakers adding jobs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/02/uaw-membership-climbs-1-1-thanks-to-automakers-adding-jobs/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/02/uaw-membership-climbs-1-1-thanks-to-automakers-adding-jobs/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/02/uaw-membership-climbs-1-1-thanks-to-automakers-adding-jobs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

United Auto Workers Logo

The United Auto Workers has seen an increase in membership for the second straight year, according to Bloomberg. Last year, the union saw its ranks grow by 1.1 percent to 380,719 members, thanks in part to increased hiring by domestic automakers. In 2010, the UAW grew by six percent, but today's total is still a fraction of the 1.5 million members the union boasted in 1979. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are expected to hire around 14,750 union workers by 2015, according to the report. That number is likely far below what the UAW will need to be able to secure significant bargaining leverage.

To that end, the UAW has made it clear that organizing a foreign-owned manufacturing facility is crucial to its survival. UAW president Bob King vowed to unionize one such plant last year but failed to do so. Now the UAW is reportedly handing out authorization cards at the new Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Workers there have reportedly had mixed-reactions to the prospect of unionization.

UAW membership climbs 1.1% thanks to automakers adding jobs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob kingchryslerfordgeneral motorsgmuawunionunited auto workersvolkswagenMon, 02 Apr 2012 18:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20206649/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/02/uaw-membership-climbs-1-1-thanks-to-automakers-adding-jobs/20206649/article-detail.xml 20206649 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/uaw-logo-large_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/uaw-logo-large.jpg <![CDATA[UAW ramping up efforts to organize VW's Chattanooga plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/uaw-ramping-up-efforts-to-organize-vws-chattanooga-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/uaw-ramping-up-efforts-to-organize-vws-chattanooga-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/uaw-ramping-up-efforts-to-organize-vws-chattanooga-plant/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Volkswagen Emblem

The United Auto Workers group isn't backing down on its efforts to unionize the new Volkswagen manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, according to Automotive News. The union is currently asking workers at the facility to sign a petition of support for organization.

The UAW has been meeting informally with workers at the plant for several months, but began handing out authorization cards early this month. Labor laws require a union to submit signature cards from at least 30 percent of the workforce before an election can be held for representation.

Unionizing plants owned by foreign automakers is a necessity for the group's survival moving forward, the UAW reiterates. The union has seen membership decline for the past 30 years, resulting in a financial crisis that's been underscored by the United States recession.

Automotive News reports the UAW has not told Volkswagen of its efforts to unionize the Chattanooga plant. An announcement may come about the program in early April. The plant currently employs more than 2,700 workers.

UAW ramping up efforts to organize VW's Chattanooga plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chattanoogatennesseeuawunited auto workersvolkswagenvolkswagen uawFri, 23 Mar 2012 18:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20199828/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/23/uaw-ramping-up-efforts-to-organize-vws-chattanooga-plant/20199828/article-detail.xml 20199828 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/volkswagen-emblem-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/volkswagen-emblem-628.jpg <![CDATA[UAW training 100,000 for protests on behalf of the 99%?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/uaw-training-100-000-for-protests-on-behalf-of-the-99/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/uaw-training-100-000-for-protests-on-behalf-of-the-99/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/uaw-training-100-000-for-protests-on-behalf-of-the-99/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The 99% Spring

According to The Daily Caller, a politically conservative news site (via The Detroit News), the United Auto Workers union is helping to organize a group called The 99% Spring, which describes itself as an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

The 99% Spring is a coalition of 43 organizations, but The Daily Caller says the UAW is the "powerhouse" behind the effort that seeks to train 100,000 Americans "for non-violent direct action." While UAW president Bob King has voiced support for the movement, an unknown source told The Detroit News that the UAW is merely a part of the coalition and is not its "mastermind."

Josh Bolotsky, a so-called online organizer listed as a contact for The 99% Spring, told The Daily Caller that "an independent tech issue led to some docs, both public and private, appearing briefly on [the UAW's public-facing web site]," adding that activists at the Movement Strategy Center and the New Organizing Institute were "[t]he chief co-coordinators of the overall project."

Full copies of the documentation obtained by The Daily Caller from the UAW website can be seen after the break... so we suggest you draw your own conclusions.

Continue reading UAW training 100,000 for protests on behalf of the 99%?

UAW training 100,000 for protests on behalf of the 99%? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>99 springbob kingoccupy wall streetthe 99the 99 percentthe 99 percent springthe 99 springuawunionunited auto workersThu, 23 Feb 2012 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20178187/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/23/uaw-training-100-000-for-protests-on-behalf-of-the-99/20178187/article-detail.xml 20178187 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/the-99-percent-spring_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/the-99-percent-spring.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 -1 2