Archive for the ‘unions’ Category

In just two days, Sergio Marchionne will reveal his five-year recovery plan for Chrysler. While much of that plan revolves around slimmed-down lineups, more focused brands, and new and improved products based on Fiat vehicles, it's also likely to involve some tinkering with Chrysler's workforce and infrastructure. Not surprisingly, Chrysler Group has offered to buy out 23,000 of its U.S. workers in an effort to trim the company's overhead and synch labor costs with the company's shrinking roster of facilities. On the upside (for workers, anyway), there may soon be some openings elsewhere in town.  [CNN]

You’ve probably already heard about how the U.S. will impose a controversial new 35-percent tariff on car and light-truck tires imported from China. Before they changed the topic to more important topics—like Kanye West—the talking heads on cable news sparred over whether the move will be good or bad for the economy in the end, and as they did we thought we’d bring you some straightforward information on how to make sure you’re buying American the next time you’re in the market for rubber.

Aside from looking for the simple “Made In” information on the sidewall, which most tires we looked at had, the best advice is to look at the first two...

Moderate Democrats in the U.S. Senate have handed union organizers a minor defeat this week by trimming a "card check" provision from a pending labor bill. The provision would have allowed workers to unionize as soon as a majority had signed cards indicating that they wished to do so. However, many moderates found that provision less democratic than the existing secret ballot system and more prone to encourage pro-union workers to bully their colleagues. On the upside (for labor organizers), the bill allows unions to be created much faster. So, is that a win-win or a lose-lose? [NYTimes]