Automotive News - June 9, 2008 - (Page 20)

20 • JUNE 9, 2008 GM union local strives to pull parts jobs in-house David Barkholz dbarkholz@crain.com DETROIT — Mike Dunn should be ecstatic. While General Motors is halting truck production at four plants, it is adding a third shift at the car-building Orion Township, Mich., assembly plant. Dunn is the chairman of UAW Local 5960 at the suburban Detroit factory. But Dunn is not satisfied. He is on a quest to bring not only new auto jobs to Orion, but parts-making work as well. “We’re happy to get another shift, but we’re always looking to do better and get more members in here,” Dunn says. Under the historic UAW-GM national contract negotiated last fall, the UAW can bring back, or insource, at least 3,000 jobs previously performed by outside suppliers. But to seek the work, UAW locals need local operating agreements. Grabbing jobs The Orion local was one of the first at GM to sign its local labor contract. The union immediately set out to insource a disproportionate share of those 3,000 jobs. Dunn says Orion, which produces the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 sedans, is in line to bring 108 socalled sequencing jobs back inside the plant by year end. More than five years ago, GM hired an outside supplier to do that work, which involves arranging parts in the proper order for assembly. The sequencing jobs would be atop 1,100 jobs that Orion will add for a third shift in September. GM also is adding a shift at its car-building Lordstown, Ohio, plant. Down the road, the local hopes to pull an additional 650 jobs back inhouse. Dunn says work teams are developing business cases for long-lost work in manufacturing seats, con- soles and brake lines. Orion Township currently employs 2,750 hourly UAW workers. For months, Dunn’s local and a handful of others were the only locals at GM with signed contracts. Another is UAW Local 652, at GM’s Grand River Cadillac assembly plant in Lansing. That local, too, is trying to reclaim sequencing jobs, says retiring Local 652 President Chris Sherwood. Local struggles For most other UAW locals at GM, signing local contracts has been a struggle. GM’s Delta Township crossover assembly plant near Lans- ing and its other Malibu assembly plant in Kansas City, Kan., went on strike last month over local issues that blocked contract approval. Those strikes have since been settled. Dunn says GM’s restructuring has been a disaster for workers. Once 19,000 new buyouts are triggered in July, GM’s UAW ranks are expected to be about 55,000, down nearly half from just two years ago. But the new UAW contract with GM does open a window to get some jobs back that traditionally have gone to suppliers. Any in-sourced jobs would be treated as new hires, earning $14 an hour vs. $28 for veteran workers. c JCI will open Ga. plant to supply Kia MILWAUKEE — Johnson Controls Inc. will open a plant in West Point, Ga., to supply vehicle seating and interior products to Kia Motors Corp. in summer 2009. Production of seat systems and door panels will begin that fall. The supplier also makes seat systems and interior parts for Kia in Europe and Asia. Johnson Controls makes interior electronics, instrument panels, overhead systems, center and floor consoles and batteries. ArvinMeritor plans Brazil r&d site DETROIT — ArvinMeritor Inc. will open a 37,000-square-foot r&d center in Brazil. The center will be part of ArvinMeritor’s Light Vehicle Systems group, which the company plans to spin off within the next year. ArvinMeritor will conduct testing, research, logistics, finance and sourcing at the center, which will be in Limeira, part of the state of Sao Paulo. The Limeira site also will house r&d for ArvinMeritor’s Fumagalli-brand steel wheels. ArvinMeritor, of suburban Detroit, makes axles, brakes, drivelines, wheels and chassis systems. Denso extends Tele Atlas contract DETROIT — Denso Corp. is extending its contract with electronic-map maker Tele Atlas to provide North American data for Denso navigation systems. Denso has purchased map data from Tele Atlas, of the Netherlands, since 2000. Tele Atlas sells digital map data worldwide for navigation systems and other uses. Denso, of Kariya, Japan, makes thermal, powertrain control, electric and electronic systems. TRW expands N.A. headquarters DETROIT — TRW Automotive Inc. is spending $14.2 million to expand its North American headquarters in suburban Detroit.The 94,000-squarefoot building is TRW’s fifth there. It will support brake engineering operations in North America. TRW makes steering, suspension, braking and engine components. http://www.protective.com/dealerservices http://www.protective.com/dealerservices

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Automotive News - June 9, 2008 Hummer Bummer: A death sentence? New F-150, Ram in peril as big pickups collapse Japanese can add small cars faster than Detroit 3 Battery shortage hurts hybrid sales 2 key overseas staffers move to Automotive News in the U.S. Toyota may add Camry to Indiana truck plant Mazda extends warranty on RX-8 rotary engine CAW to consider strike against GM Porsche's new 911 GM plans big ad push for its big hybrid SUVs Chrysler cuts fees to outside service firms 5% Toyota considering 'Made in U.S.A.' Prius Congress, Bush square off over rollover suits GM finance whiz changed the industry GM's big SUVs may get lighter Harbour Report: Chrysler, Toyota most efficient Spring intros can be dicey Ford spends big on MKS ad launch Media buyer for GM cuts 25 jobs Sources: GM poised to buy Cobasys GM dealer program rebounds Mazda updates the RX-8 New Maxima is a tad smaller — but more buff Congress must balance safety, mpg concerns Is the gas crisis real or just temporary? What about poor driving? There's no substitute for safe driving Lack of regulation foils safety laws Sticker law cleaned up a pricing mess Lithia to sell outlets, delay used-car stores Nielsen likes to step off the beaten path GM union local strives to pull parts jobs in-house JCI will open Ga. plant to supply Kia Dealers: Be open about credit problems Finance venture has $1 billion Picture this Personnel Dealers BMW purchasing chief 'looking for waste' Nissan Mexicana gets new chief Ford Flex output begins Hyundai Genesis: $33,000 Ford buys more from minorities Audi's U.S. chief: Brand can handle high gas prices May in Detroit: Scary, not merry Infiniti FX starts at $41,765 Lincoln: 8,600 MKS orders Plastics supplier sees growth Jenkins gets Aston Martin post Smith is CEO of Jaguar, Land Rover Kremlin watching, Chrysler style Toyota breathing down GM's neck on monthly U.S. sales PR chief Steve Harris: At GM through '08 Small-car surge is a replay of 1979 Auto execs would benefit from some store experience Mini's mixed results: Sales soar, quality stumbles Nice car — so what's the ppmpg? Volt's good PR got struck by lightning

Automotive News - June 9, 2008

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