It is correct to postpone an increase in strike pay until the stability of the union is known when it comes to it's treasury and investments. Cleaning up corruption is vital. It is the era of the union and transparency is the answer. How can a company look at union representatives across the table if they aren't transparent to their members?
By Jordyn Grzelewski and Breana Noble
Detroit — The United Auto Workers' 38th Constitutional Convention (click here) ended on a dramatic note Thursday, reflecting internal fissures — as well as some signs of progress — in a union attempting to move beyond a years-long corruption scandal and position itself for an uncertain future.
In an unexpected move, UAW President Ray Curry skipped the traditional state of the union address after repeatedly delaying it earlier in the week. Some delegates also left the convention furious and confused about a move late in the day to reverse a vote that increased strike pay. And much of the morning on the convention's final day at Huntington Place was spent on a procedural matter that some saw as an attempted filibuster.
Still, numerous delegates to the quadrennial event said they felt it was the most democratic convention they'd been to yet, and were encouraged by progress they felt had been made on key reforms and policies.
"I thought Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were wonderful. I thought they were democratic. Everybody got to speak their mind, including me, and I got to talk when I was saying things nobody wanted to hear," said Bill Bagwell Jr., 65, a delegate from Local 174 in Livonia. He works at General Motors Co.'s customer care and aftersales facility in Ypsilanti and has attended numerous constitutional conventions.....
The companies are healthy. They seem to have good and decent leadership. They are taking the climate crisis seriously and moving forward toward those goals. These are all necessary changes. It would have been easier for the country and investors if the changes were gradually worked into the companies if there was real leadership in DC regarding greenhouse gas pollution. These dynamics are all compressed now because of the high degree of corruption of the petroleum industry and their willingness and ability to pollute the political dynamics in the USA.
By Breana Noble and Jordyn Grzelewski
Detroit's three automakers (click here) say they're prepared to weather an economic downturn and pursue their electrification targets — though it's coming at the cost of consumers' pocketbooks and jobs.
The companies say their order books are strong and a global microchip shortage that's plagued the industry for more than a year is improving — albeit, slowly. The resulting low vehicle inventories have fueled high transaction prices and billions of dollars in profits. Inflation, raw material price increases and rising interest rates, however, remain wild cards that could send economies into a downturn, potentially jeopardizing auto profits and companies' ability to invest in transformational technologies.
So far, General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis NV haven't blinked. The companies this week each maintained their financial guidance and championed plans for double-digit margins throughout the decade, while acknowledging the potential for a rough road ahead.
They say they're prepared: GM is cutting "discretionary" spending and has a hiring freeze except for critical roles; Ford CEO Jim Farley reiterated that the company has "too many people;" and Stellantis says it's keeping its breakeven point low....
