Brocktoon! Chrysler Contract comes down to Belvidere
The fate of the UAW/Chrysler contract comes down to the 3800 UAW employees in the Belvidere, Illinois plants. According to the Detroit News, with 56% of the already-cast votes in favor of the contract, it would take a nearly-unanimous "nay" vote at Belvidere for the contract to not be ratified. Are they underestimating the power of Brocktoon?
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tide Turns in Favor of Chrysler Pact
3 of 4 locals approved contract yesterday
Large UAW locals in Warren Michigan and Sterling Heights, Illinois voted on the Chrysler/UAW contract, and 3 out of 4 of them approved the contract. According to the Baltimore Sun, results of the 4th local were not available at presstime.
The positive votes came just a day after workers in Kokomo, Indiana voted against the contract at about a 3/1 ratio.
If the trend holds, the contract will be approved by this weekend.
3 of 4 locals approved contract yesterday
Large UAW locals in Warren Michigan and Sterling Heights, Illinois voted on the Chrysler/UAW contract, and 3 out of 4 of them approved the contract. According to the Baltimore Sun, results of the 4th local were not available at presstime.
The positive votes came just a day after workers in Kokomo, Indiana voted against the contract at about a 3/1 ratio.
If the trend holds, the contract will be approved by this weekend.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
What's a "Rock Rental"?
No, it's not Scooby Doo answering the question: Who stared in Smokey and the Bandit? A Rock Rental is loaning out your car in exchange for crack cocaine. I don't know about you, but I've had several strange cases cross my desk over the years that involved bad things that happened when a client loaned his/her car to a person he/she hardly knew. This article about rock rentals from the Birmingham News via Autoblog.com goes a long way towards making sense of these incidents.
No, it's not Scooby Doo answering the question: Who stared in Smokey and the Bandit? A Rock Rental is loaning out your car in exchange for crack cocaine. I don't know about you, but I've had several strange cases cross my desk over the years that involved bad things that happened when a client loaned his/her car to a person he/she hardly knew. This article about rock rentals from the Birmingham News via Autoblog.com goes a long way towards making sense of these incidents.
Ford Update
Ford and UAW are negotiating on their contract. The future of a number of Ford factories are at stake. From the outside looking in, it appears that Ford's future product plans are more firm than Chrysler's, but less firm than General Motors'. Here's a link to the Detroit News article.
Ford and UAW are negotiating on their contract. The future of a number of Ford factories are at stake. From the outside looking in, it appears that Ford's future product plans are more firm than Chrysler's, but less firm than General Motors'. Here's a link to the Detroit News article.
Chrysler Update
Contract Might or Might Not Be Approved
This morning, the Detroit News reports that the member vote on the tentative Chrysler, LLC agreement with the UAW could go either way. Right now the approval folks have a narrow lead. More locals will be voting this week.
Contract Might or Might Not Be Approved
This morning, the Detroit News reports that the member vote on the tentative Chrysler, LLC agreement with the UAW could go either way. Right now the approval folks have a narrow lead. More locals will be voting this week.
Interesting Blog of the Day
Masson's Blog
I stumbled upon an excellent blog by Lafayette attorney Doug Mason. Mason's Blog covers Indiana Law, state and local politics and (like most other blogs) whatever else catches his attention. He posts with amazing frequency, averaging more than a post a day. Despite the frequency of his posting, he doesn't just throw out a link (as I've been known to do), he adds his own insight and opinion. Among other things, his blog contains running commentary on the Indiana Law Update 2-day CLE that was held in September.
Masson's Blog
I stumbled upon an excellent blog by Lafayette attorney Doug Mason. Mason's Blog covers Indiana Law, state and local politics and (like most other blogs) whatever else catches his attention. He posts with amazing frequency, averaging more than a post a day. Despite the frequency of his posting, he doesn't just throw out a link (as I've been known to do), he adds his own insight and opinion. Among other things, his blog contains running commentary on the Indiana Law Update 2-day CLE that was held in September.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Back from South Carolina
"Shrinkage" is the Word of the Day
This past weekend was the annual meeting for representatives of AFSCME 3357. I did not take detailed notes of the meeting, and I don't have time now to get into it in depth, suffice it to say that in the past few years, the Plan and local 3357 membership has seen so much shrinkage that it makes George Costanza look like Mr. Ed. The shrinkage in the unionized U.S. auto industry has resulted in a corresponding decrease in the number of UAW Legal Services attorneys.
We're down to 104 attorneys in our local, about half of our peak. There are lots of offices that serve only retirees. Some offices are down to one or 1/2 a staff attorney. Like never before our members need to be jacks of all trades. Soon it may be the norm rather than the exception that each attorney needs to be able to handle every problem code.
While some things that were discussed can't be disclosed as a matter of competitive intelligence, all of the issues that are hot button in my office were raised and discussed. Quite a few attorneys with high seniority are now commuting long distances thanks to being laid off and bumping into new offices. It is becoming apparent (if it wasn't already) that "bumping" is no substitute for severance pay or buyout packages.
I also want to point out that almost all of the area reps at our meeting were high seniority folks. Low seniority attorneys need to get more active in the union for their own self-interest. Under the last contract, we received only a minor raise due to a new retiree healthcare plan. Given that you have to have 15 years seniority and an attained age of 61 or 62 to qualify, it is unlikely that the majority of our members will ever benefit from the retiree healthcare. You will be getting a questionnaire in the mail early next year asking you what issues you think are important going into the negotiations for next year's contract. You should take this questionnaire seriously. Take time and fill it out.
"Shrinkage" is the Word of the Day
This past weekend was the annual meeting for representatives of AFSCME 3357. I did not take detailed notes of the meeting, and I don't have time now to get into it in depth, suffice it to say that in the past few years, the Plan and local 3357 membership has seen so much shrinkage that it makes George Costanza look like Mr. Ed. The shrinkage in the unionized U.S. auto industry has resulted in a corresponding decrease in the number of UAW Legal Services attorneys.
We're down to 104 attorneys in our local, about half of our peak. There are lots of offices that serve only retirees. Some offices are down to one or 1/2 a staff attorney. Like never before our members need to be jacks of all trades. Soon it may be the norm rather than the exception that each attorney needs to be able to handle every problem code.
While some things that were discussed can't be disclosed as a matter of competitive intelligence, all of the issues that are hot button in my office were raised and discussed. Quite a few attorneys with high seniority are now commuting long distances thanks to being laid off and bumping into new offices. It is becoming apparent (if it wasn't already) that "bumping" is no substitute for severance pay or buyout packages.
I also want to point out that almost all of the area reps at our meeting were high seniority folks. Low seniority attorneys need to get more active in the union for their own self-interest. Under the last contract, we received only a minor raise due to a new retiree healthcare plan. Given that you have to have 15 years seniority and an attained age of 61 or 62 to qualify, it is unlikely that the majority of our members will ever benefit from the retiree healthcare. You will be getting a questionnaire in the mail early next year asking you what issues you think are important going into the negotiations for next year's contract. You should take this questionnaire seriously. Take time and fill it out.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Renting a Car?
Where's the Gas Cap?
Autoblog has a discussion on how to tell where the gas cap is on an unfamiliar car. Here are some tips. First, look for an arrow next to the gas pump icon under the car's fuel gauge. If there isn't one, look at the direction the gas pump nozzle is pointing on the gas pump icon. If you follow these two rules you'll be right 90% of the time.
Where's the Gas Cap?
Autoblog has a discussion on how to tell where the gas cap is on an unfamiliar car. Here are some tips. First, look for an arrow next to the gas pump icon under the car's fuel gauge. If there isn't one, look at the direction the gas pump nozzle is pointing on the gas pump icon. If you follow these two rules you'll be right 90% of the time.
Consumer Reports Drops Camry from "Recommended" List
Ford's Quality improvement is "real and sustained"
Detnews.com (check out the snazzy new graphics) has posted a story stating that Consumer Reports magazine is dropping the V-6 version of the Toyota Camry from its "Recommended" list after owner reports suggested below average reliability for its redesigned 2007 model. Transmission problems were to blame for the Camry's fall. The 4wd version of the Tundra pick-up and AWD Lexus GS sedan also skidded to below-average. More critically to Toyota, at this point Consumer Reports will not give redesigned Toyota's a recommended rating based upon a presumption of reliability, a presumption that has long been touted as unfair by critics.
Whereas Toyota fell in Consumer Reports' rankings, Ford came out smelling like a rose. Ford's reliability ratings went up to a level where it is actually more competetive with Toyota and Honda than with GM and Chrysler. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan were touted by CR "most reliable" from their inception. The latest report confirms that this was no fluke, these models continue to be very reliable, and Fords as a group are doing well.
Ford's Quality improvement is "real and sustained"
Detnews.com (check out the snazzy new graphics) has posted a story stating that Consumer Reports magazine is dropping the V-6 version of the Toyota Camry from its "Recommended" list after owner reports suggested below average reliability for its redesigned 2007 model. Transmission problems were to blame for the Camry's fall. The 4wd version of the Tundra pick-up and AWD Lexus GS sedan also skidded to below-average. More critically to Toyota, at this point Consumer Reports will not give redesigned Toyota's a recommended rating based upon a presumption of reliability, a presumption that has long been touted as unfair by critics.
Whereas Toyota fell in Consumer Reports' rankings, Ford came out smelling like a rose. Ford's reliability ratings went up to a level where it is actually more competetive with Toyota and Honda than with GM and Chrysler. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan were touted by CR "most reliable" from their inception. The latest report confirms that this was no fluke, these models continue to be very reliable, and Fords as a group are doing well.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Breaking News
Chrysler Union Leaders Approve Contract
15 minutes ago, as I write this, just at the tail end of my lunch break, Chysler UAW leaders approved the tentative contract by a voice vote over the objections of a few dissenters. Most of the union reps did not see the contract until this morning. It is likely that few had the opportunity to read the whole thing. The contract must still be voted upon by the rank and file union members.
Chrysler Union Leaders Approve Contract
15 minutes ago, as I write this, just at the tail end of my lunch break, Chysler UAW leaders approved the tentative contract by a voice vote over the objections of a few dissenters. Most of the union reps did not see the contract until this morning. It is likely that few had the opportunity to read the whole thing. The contract must still be voted upon by the rank and file union members.
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