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September 23, 2009 |
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UAW posts list of 2010 union-made cars, trucks
The
United Auto Workers union has posted a list of 2010 union-made cars, trucks,
pickups, vans, CUVs and SUVs. UAW members working in the domestic auto
industry, said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, "are pleased to see a
recent Consumer Reports survey which shows that four out of five new car
buyers are likely to consider an American brand when purchasing a vehicle." Read more.
► In today's NY Times -- GM to call back 2,200 workers -- The company says it is calling the workers back to factories in Michigan, Indiana and Kansas to meet higher demand.
► In today's LA Times -- Toyota wants California to repay it for training workers -- The automaker seeks millions in taxpayer funds to reimburse the company for teaching skills to employees at a Fremont plant that it plans to close in 2010.
State government news:
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Part 1 -- Washington:
A business-friendly state Our state is consistently ranked among the very best states for business. We have comparatively low business taxes, a lighter regulatory burden, a highly skilled and trained workforce, excellent higher education, and for those reasons and many others, our state outperforms other states. ► Part 2 -- Our workers' comp advantage A persistent myth about our business climate is that our workers' compensation costs are higher than in other states. The gap between the truth and the negative rhetoric on this question is shocking. Only four states have lower employer costs for workers' comp. ► Part 3 -- Unemployment insurance saving jobs, businesses in WA Washington's unemployment insurance system has pumped some $5 billion into our state economy in the past 18 months. That money is keeping businesses afloat and saving jobs in this recession. |
► At HeraldNet.com -- Washington state ranks 9th tax-"friendliest" for business -- State government leaders have another feather in their collective cap as they try to convince Boeing that Washington is where it should locate its second 787 line. The Tax Foundation has ranked Washington among the 10 best business climate states. The state moved up three spots to No. 9, surpassing 787 rival states Texas (11) and South Carolina (26).
► In today's Columbian -- State's business climate warms -- "The fact that we’re ranked in that (top 10) category is very good news," says AWB President Don Brunell.
Calling California’s business tax climate (it ranks 48th in the new study) "central to the reasoning for moving to places that are friendlier," Fisher Investments CEO Ken Fisher has been clear about his quest to move his 1,200-employee company from California to Washington state. The company opened a Vancouver satellite office in 2006 and crews recently started building roads to a 150-acre Camas site where Fisher plans to build a $30 million office complex.
Bart
Phillips, president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council, says
when companies consider relocating, "We’ve found the most important
(considerations) are access to labor and talent, in other words, the work
force." After that, companies consider operating costs and whether the
new location offers good access to markets.
"I would consider the tax consequences third," he says.
► In today's Bellingham Herald -- State proposes 7.6% increase in workers' comp insurance -- Average premiums would go up by about 4 cents per hour worked. L&I Director Judy Schurke says the three major factors for the proposed increase are reduced investment returns, fewer premiums because of reduced hours worked and fewer jobs for injured workers when they are able to return to the workforce.
► In today's Everett Herald -- Workers' comp system cries out for competition (Richard Davis column) -- The rate increase here may revive calls for a workers’ comp “private option.” Washington is one of only four states that operates an exclusive state monopoly, requiring employers to purchase their insurance from the government. We are also among the highest-cost states in the nation. (That last sentence is demonstrably untrue, which is why the business lobbyist who wrote it cites no research to back up his assertion.)
► In today's Yakima H-R -- State Republicans offer own health care solutions -- Ferndale Republican Doug Ericksen summarized 10 pieces of legislation that Republicans proposed for state-level reform in the 2009 Legislature, noting that not one received a hearing in the Democratic-controlled body. But he said the GOP reform roadshow, which has been to Bellingham and Tri-Cities and is headed for Spokane, Vancouver and Bellevue, is meant to build support for a renewed push in the 2010 session.
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CONTACT CONGRESS! As
the Senate Finance Committee debates the Baucus bill. Call Sen. Maria Cantwell and tell her
to "Fix the Baucus Bill!" SEN. MARIA CANTWELL : D.C. 202.224.3441; Seattle 206.220.6400; Spokane 509.353.2507; Vancouver 360.696.7838; Richland 509.946.8106; Tacoma 253.572.2281; Everett 425.303-0114.MESSAGE: Thank you for your continuing support for a public option and for your efforts to revamp Medicare reimbursement. Please fix the Baucus bill before moving it out of committee. The bill includes no employer responsibility, it does not provide affordable or quality health care coverage, it proposes unfair taxation on certain so-called "high cost" health plans, it has no public option, it increases state Medicaid costs, it has no provisions for early retiree coverage, and weakens state insurance regulation. Please do all that you can to fix it before moving it out of committee. |
Health reform news:
► Today from AP -- Health overhaul now includes Cantwell Medicare measure -- Sen. Baucus has agreed to include Sen. Maria Cantwell's amendment changing the way doctors serving Medicare patients are paid. The current system penalizes Washington and other states by rewarding quantity of services performed rather than quality, she says. (Also see the press release from Cantwell's office.)
► Today from AP -- Democrats try to move on bill, GOP objects -- Baucus heard some encouraging words Wednesday from a key centrist Democrat -- Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) -- as he opened the second day of committee debate on his bill.
► At Politico -- Trumka will 'fight' benefits tax, wants stock transfer tax instead -- The Baucus bill would tax the most expensive health benefits, which include those of many unionized public employees. Instead the news AFL-CIO president will push another option to pay for health reform: a new tax on financial transactions.
► In today's NY Times -- Bill approved to expedite Kennedy successor -- Fulfilling one of Edward Kennedy’s dying wishes, the Massachusetts State Senate approves a bill allowing a temporary replacement for the late senator. The governor could appoint an interim senator within days.
► In today's NY Times -- The numbers and health care reform (editorial) -- Two surveys underscore why all Americans have a stake in successful reform. Too many are being hit with relentlessly rising premiums or are at serious risk of losing coverage to allow the status quo to continue.
► In today's Spokesman-Review -- Cantwell offers solid ideas on health care (editorial) -- Sen. Maria Cantwell's amendments would go a long way toward controlling Medicare costs.
► At SeattlePI.com -- Cantwell seeks to control health costs (Joel Connelly column) -- In America, necessity has been the major driver of change. The country's political class cannot let us down this time. Ask yourself: Can we afford to have insurance rates go up another 129%?
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In today's Washington Post -- Republicans'
deaf ear is a preexisting condition (Dana
Milbank column) -- The
committee was barely an hour into its consideration of health-care reform,
but Sen. Jim Bunning (R-CIGNA) already knew where he stood: "I do not
support a government takeover of the health-care system. (It)
confiscates more money from the taxpayers. It tramples on American freedom
and liberties." After this vigorous display of open-mindedness, Bunning
was spent. About an hour later, spectators noticed that the senator, who had
been resting his chin in his hand, had fallen fast asleep.
Local news:
► In today's News Tribune -- Proposal cuts Pierce County budget -- There would be 284 fewer full-time workers on the county payroll in 2010 -- a 8.4% decline from this year -- under County Executive Pat McCarthy's proposed budget. That is 13 fewer workers than it had 10 years ago, even though the county’s population has increased by about 100,000 in that time.
► In today's Seattle Times -- Should Seattle's high-paid Port CEO get a raise? -- At $334,000 a year, Tay Yoshitani is among the highest paid port directors in the country. A staff proposal to give him a 10% raise next year if he does a good job has been tabled by port commissioners.
Boeing news:
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From Reuters -- 787
delays cast hard light on outsourcing
-- Boeing acknowledges that it outsourced
too much of the 787 and will conduct its global partnerships differently in
the future. Says IAM 751 President Tom Wroblewski, whose union represents 45,000 active,
retired and laid-off Boeing workers: "It's no surprise, at
least to us, that this production system that they used on the 787 is a
failure. That's what we warned the company about from the beginning. They still
appear committed to this production system. They say they need to make
changes. Well, I hope they've learned from those mistakes."
► At SPEEA.org -- Federal mediator at table as Spirit talks resume -- SPEEA presented its counterproposal to the most recently rejected contract offer. Spirit committed to present our team a comprehensive proposal at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
► At HeraldNet.com -- Spirit, SPEEA resume contract talks -- Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems returned to the negotiating table Tuesday with SPEEA, whose members in Wichita voted down Spirit’s previous two contract offers. During the last go-round, 92% of voting SPEEA members gave the OK to union leaders to authorize a strike should they fail to reach a new contract.
► From Bloomberg -- Draft bid request for tanker contract expected out by Friday -- Defense Department officials will brief key members of Congress and the industry as early as Thursday.
National news:
► In today's NY Times -- Trumka leads Wall St. protest of "apostles of greed" -- The new AFL-CIO president issued repeated warnings that the labor movement would battle the nation’s bankers if they did not do more to lend to homeowners and small business and to create jobs. “We are here today to demand more accountability from our financial system -- from Wall Street -- from Masters of the Universe who speculate in phony instruments rather than invest in the real economy.”
► In today's NY Times -- With receptive White House, labor begins to line up battles -- While labor’s opposition to free trade is nothing new, having an ear in the White House is. The Obama administration, though it says it supports free trade, has so far seemed more aligned with labor’s trade agenda than has any administration in decades. What alarms America’s trading partners is the steelworkers’ victory when the president imposed a 35% tariff on Chinese tires under trade rules that allow punitive measures without a finding of illegal trade practices.
► From AP -- McDermott bill passes to add to jobless benefits in 27 states -- With no end in sight to the country's job market woes, the House has agreed to give the jobless another 13 weeks of benefits in 27 states (including Washington) with unemployment rates above 8.5%.
WEDNESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009
UAW posts list of 2010 union-made
cars, trucks
The United Auto Workers
union has posted a
list of 2010 union-made cars, trucks, pickups, vans, CUVs and SUVs
online.
UAW members working in the domestic auto industry, said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, "are pleased to see a recent Consumer Reports survey which shows that four out of five new car buyers are likely to consider an American brand when purchasing a vehicle.
"When customers visit the showroom to look at vehicles made by our members, they're going to find top-quality cars and trucks in every price range and in every product category."
Union autoworkers, he said, make vehicles for U.S., European and Asian-based manufacturers, including hybrids, clean diesels and energy-saving advanced transmission and flex-fuel models.
Union-made vehicles, Gettelfinger noted, have been recognized repeatedly for quality achievements by industry analysts such as J.D. Power and the University of Michigan Consumer Satisfaction Survey.
"The U.S. auto industry has faced incredible challenges during the past year," said Gettelfinger. "Our members have responded with total dedication and commitment to building in quality at every step of the manufacturing process, and consumers are taking notice."
The 2010 union-made vehicle guide lists vehicles made in the United States and Canada by UAW members and members of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union. It includes various Chrysler, Ford, General Motors models, as well as specific Mazda, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Volkswagen vehicles.
Copyright © 2009 -- Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO