Three Strikes and You're Out: UAW Threaten Another GM Shutdown
The AP [via Yahoo] brings news that the UAW local representing GM's Ontario, Ohio metal stamping plant has given notice of their "intent to strike" this Thursday at 10am. Ontario makes hoods, doors, fenders and floor pans for several GM cars and trucks. Previously, GM plants in Warren and Grand Rapids threatened strikes but settled at the last moment. The UAW workers at Lansing Interiors, however, made good on their threat; the supplier's been on strike almost three weeks, pulling the rug out from under GM's Lambda crossover production (Outlook, Acadia, Enclave). Is the United Auto Workers (UAW) subjecting GM to a death by a thousand cuts? What's the point of negotiating a national contract if every plant covered by the agreement goes out on strike over "local issues?" Union Prez Big Ron Gettelfinger says that the Ontario and other strike threats "are about local contract issues and have nothing to do with American Axle." Yeah right. Most analysts see the GM strikes as an attempt to keep GM's feet to the fire, to force the automaker to bail out/buy out American Axle's union members. Whatever the reason, it will be a long time before GM starts making trucks again. In case anyone's wondering.
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@Katie re: ArcelorMittal HQ uh, no.... http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/21/stories/2007012100240600.htm
Captian Tungsten, I got mized up. They're TRADED on the Amsterdam stock exchange. My apologies.
Re: Getting away from union plants
About a dozen years or so ago, Caterpillar built a huge new engine plant, just down the road here in Seguin TX.
Story has it, Caterpillar came to Seguin City council in advance, and told them their plans. Then they asked for no advanced publicity from Seguin, until announcement day. This new plant was gonna be a non-union replacement for a couple of union plants in IL and SC, and Cat didn't want to stir up union problems until the plan was set. They told Seguin, If you about blab this in advance, we'll walk.
Well, Seguin kept quiet as instructed, and the plan went through, with all the usual expected tax abatements given.
Plant construction began, but the Caterpillar name was conspicuously absent from anywhere on the site. Instead, the plant was described as being a collective of various contractors and suppliers for Caterpillar. Which in fact, it was.
Then comes the day, with the big new plant fully operationa!, that Caterpillar comes in and announces, Hey, Yeah it's our plant, and the Caterpillar name boldly goes up on the front. All you contractor folks, welcome aboard, you're now Caterpillar employees.
Then, Cat turns and announces they are closing those two union plants immediately, and will be transporting all the heavy manufacturing equipment to Seguin. None of the union workers, just the equipment.
And today, the Caterpillar plant sits out there, humming away happily, making engines for the industry and good paying jobs for us. I'd call that a winner.