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Skilled Trades Association March - April 2005 Archive
April 2005
Apr 30, 2005 - Business Week Online has a cover story entitled "Why GM's Plan Won't Work, and the ugly road ahead" Let's hope the authors of this article are wrong. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner works to get the world's largest automaker through its toughest year since the early 90s, one headache he doesn't have to worry about is running out of cash, as Chrysler Corp. did in the '70s. In "Trades News Articles"
Apr 29, 2005 - Pictures from the April 2005 Skilled Trades Retirement Party for Maintenance Trades have been posted in the "Picture Archive" area of the site.
Apr 28, 2005 - There's another "It's the product stupid" article entitled "GM may be ripe for an extreme makeover" in the USA Today. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 27, 2005 - Homi K. Patel will retire as GM vice president and general manager of manufacturing operations for GM Powertrain after 36 years of service with General Motors, effective June 1. In "Trades News Articles"
Apr 26, 2005 - GM, faced with shrinking North American market share and evaporating profits, may have no choice but to close more plants and lay off thousands more workers. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Depending on your point of view, the prospect of imported cars from China is either welcome news or a nightmare in the making. In "Trades News Articles"
Toyota Motor Corp.'s chairman suggested Monday the Japanese carmaker may consider raising the prices of the cars it sells in the United States to help support its ailing U.S. peers and avert a trade war. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 25, 2005 - Where can GM find the fighting spirit of Iacocca, the resolve of Ghosn, the expertise of Zetsche and the brains of Sloan to revive the company? Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
General Motors Corp. is recalling more than 2 million vehicles, including nearly 1.5 million sport utility vans and pickup trucks that have problems with their seat belts. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 24, 2005 - General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler unit are getting higher prices and faster sales from 10 new cars compared with the models they replaced. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 23, 2005 - The last Jimmy and Blazer manufactured in the state of New Jersey rolled off the assembly line to little fanfare Wednesday morning. In "Trades News Articles"
GM is planning more new vehicle launches this year and it would be overestimating the reach of Consumer Reports to say it can make or break a vehicle, but not by much. Get an insight into Consumer Reports and read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 22, 2005 - DaimlerChrysler's top China strategist triggered an uproar Thursday when he disclosed the automaker may make vehicles in China for export, including a subcompact for the Chrysler Group's North American lineup. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 21, 2005 - Doug Orr's latest Chair report is posted on the CAW199 web site. Read the report in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 20, 2005 - GM girds for new cutbacks. After posting its worst quarterly loss in 13 years, GM abandoned its 2005 earnings forecast and signalled the need for a long, steady restructuring. Many rank and file are having a hard time believing it. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 19, 2005 - General Motors Corp. reported its deepest quarterly loss in more than a decade $1.1 billion US as rising health-care costs and lacklustre response to some new models hammered its North American business. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
What's Good for Canada is Good for General Motors. What’s going on here? In Canada, executives at GM are not just praising our medical system, they’re lobbying to have it expanded. Back in the States though, they’re all lobbying furiously against any hint of government-funded health care. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 18, 2005 - Can GM Change Its Story? They are doing SOME things right. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 17, 2005 - General Motors Corp. directors may be showing signs of losing patience. Now, the board is likely to wait a year at most before considering whether to find a new CEO if results don't improve. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 16, 2005 - The Pontiac Solstice may be the vehicle that the ailing General Motors Corp., and its even more troubled Pontiac brand, have been waiting for. In "Trades News Articles"
The head of the UAW said the union won't reopen its national contract with GM but is willing to help the automaker cut health care and other costs. In "Trades News Articles"
Apr 15, 2005 - GM announced earlier this week, that the battery plant, which supplies Oshawa's General Motors (GM) manufacturing sites and employs hundreds people, will shut down this summer. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Though they are expensive and complex to engineer and build, automatic transmissions with five, six and even seven speeds will help automakers improve fuel economy and lower emissions. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 14, 2005 - Given the financial crisis facing GM, many have been waiting for Chairman and CEO Richard Wagoner Jr. to drop a big bomb of a restructuring plan. Don't expect that to happen, at least not yet. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
General Motors hopes to generate a buzz amongst all of it's vehicles by introducing the Pontiac Solstice this summer. You can see it on "The Apprentice" television show tonight. Read the full article in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 13, 2005 - Simply put... Why can't we build diesel engines for the North American market in St. Catharines? Read the full article in "Trades News Articles"
GM executive Bob Lutz said U.S. engineers need more hands-on training to match Asian and European engineers, who can work on a problem "without pulling in a bunch of specialists." Read the full article in "Trades News Articles"
The CAW 222 Oshaworker for April 2005 is posted on their site today. You can download it and read it from the link in "Automotive News Sources"
Apr 12, 2005 - What people are buying... Despite all the bearish talk and negative news coming out of Detroit, particularly from General Motors, the numbers so far are good. Read the full article in "Trades News Articles"
The Big 3 see sales sag as gas prices rise. The automakers share drivers' pain as demand for big SUVs and pickups drops. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 11, 2005 - In Forbes, GM says that it could maybe one day shut down engine and transmission factories around the world because one plant could make fuel cells for all types of vehicles. Dan Murray sent me the link that you can find in "Trades News Articles"
GM would need to slash as much as 20 per cent of its production capacity to bring it in line with it's market share, a move which would affect up to 25,000 employees. Thanks to Dave MacLellan for the link in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 10, 2005 - This automotive journalist feels that GM's removal of all advertising from the L.A. Times is long overdue. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Hargrove has reviewed the competitive and economic pressures facing the Big Three auto makers and the auto parts industry this year. Dan Murray sent me this link a few days ago but I neglected to post the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 9, 2005 - Ford slashed its earnings forecast for the year on Friday, citing higher gas prices and rising costs. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
GM gives the L.A. Times a slap for unfair reporting of the new vehicle lines and pulls their advertising. In "Trades News Articles"
Apr 8, 2005 - Rick Wagoner faces some tough decisions and the two Detroit Free Press articles today suggest some places that he might look to make cuts. In "Trades News Articles"
Apr 7, 2005 - The London Free Press today says that they may be hiring 400 additional workers at the Cami plant in Ingersoll. I intend on contacting the Skilled Trades rep there to see if there will or is any opportunities for our trades. In "Trades News Articles"
GM is pushing suppliers to build facilities in China near GM's joint-venture facilities in Shanghai to cut costs. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 6, 2005 - GM took another blow Tuesday as Moody's Investors Service followed Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings in downgrading the automaker's credit rating to one notch above "junk" status. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Canada and major automakers signed a pact Tuesday that is expected to lead to more fuel-efficient cars and trucks as part of our country's effort to combat emissions linked to global warming. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 5, 2005 - An article in today's Detroit News about the management shuffle at the top states that "GM's current leadership is responsible for the woes at its North American operations. This is like moving around the chairs on the deck of the Titanic." Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Doug Orr's Chair Report for April 5th is on the CAW 199 web site. You will also find a link to it in "Trades News Articles"
GM says that the next version of the Caddy SRX will be delayed because of financial problems. Future Pontiac and Buick RWD vehicle might ride on the Cadillac Sigma platform. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 4, 2005 - GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner will step in to replace Bob Lutz, 73 and Gary Cowger, 57 in North America. Looks as though rumours of Lutz and Cowger being in trouble are true. A rudderless ship? Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
There is an article in the Detroit News today about outsourcing Skilled Trades work to Asia. It often times ends up costing the automakers more than what it would have cost to get the work done on this continent. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 3, 2005 - The UAW, which has been under pressure to help domestic automakers, has made what union officials describe privately as a key concession to General Motors Corp. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Apr 2, 2005 - General Motors along with Petro-Canada has developed a new, improved automatic transmission fluid for all 2006 model year Hydra-Matic automatic transmissions. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles" It's a slow news day :-)
Apr 1, 2005 - March sales are in. GM Canada reports an 8.3% increase in sales over last year where sales in the U.S. were virtually flat although there are some bright spots. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
GM North American scheduled overtime/downtime for week of April 04, 2005. See who's working next week in "Trades News Articles"
March 2005 Mar 31, 2005 - You thought GM was the only one that has problems in today's market? For the last few months Honda hasn't been able to give their cars away. The article was posted yesterday in the Detroit Free Press and the link is in "Trades News Articles"
Bob Lutz says in his GM blog today, "Let me say it now, for the world to hear: No, we have no plans to shed a brand. Period." I have added a link to his blog on the "Automotive News Sources" page.
Mar 30, 2005 - As the GM nears the edge of a financial abyss, most eyes focus on the top. This article in the Detroit News includes some great responses to the authors article from the 27th regarding the tough decisions that GM has to make. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 29, 2005 - It's the product stupid! New Buick, Pontiac and minivan models just don't excite, says analysts. GM stock hits 10 year lows. In "Trades News Articles"
Read questions and answers from the Detroit Free Press regarding GMs current problems in "Trades News Articles"
Mar 28, 2005 - An article in the Toronto Star states that the Big Three market share in Canada is increasing powered by GM and Daimler Chrysler vehicle line-ups. Good news folks! Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Mar 27, 2005 - GM must face some tough decisions as it approaches 100 years old in 2008. As it does, its leaders shouldn't be afraid to speak truth to their people and to themselves. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Mar 26, 2005 - March sales results expected to be better than recent months. In "Trades News Articles"
Can GM get itself back into the passing lane? Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Mar 25, 2005 - Every day there seems to be more bad news from General Motors. It's like a parody of BBC news in the early days of World War II. In "Trades News Articles"
Despite what was reported Wednesday, GM says it won't phase out a brand. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Mar 24, 2005 - General Motors Corp., buckling under massive health care costs, signalled Wednesday it will push union workers to pay significantly more for medical coverage. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
At the 2005 New York Auto Show, open to the public from Mar. 27-Apr. 3, it's hard for anyone's new models to shine in the long shadow of GM's current financial woes. all anyone wants to talk about is GM's worsening outlook and how the company will fix it. In "Trades News Articles"
GM has always been "Like a rock". Is that rock crumbling? In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 23, 2005 - You might ask yourself, Why doesn't General Motors build a car like the Chrysler 300C, a big, pretty and affordable sedan with old-school power and fresh appeal? Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
News broke the other day about a reshuffling of GMs product plan and cancelling of the Zeta platform. Bob Lutz just wants to clear one thing up before people get carried away. Check out the Solstice below the Zeta information when you are on the page. Read the Bob Lutz blog in the "Trades News Articles"
Mar 22, 2005 - Doug Orr's chair report is posted today on the CAW 199 site. Dan Murray emailed me to let me know as he often does. Thanks Dan. Read the report in "Trades News Articles"
GM CEO Rick Wagoner bought $1.5 million of GM shares Monday in what he described as a vote of confidence in the struggling automaker. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 21, 2005 - GM is seeking deep cuts in white collar ranks with buyouts but no layoffs are planned. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
GM has killed plans for a new line of rear-wheel drive passenger cars slated to reach North American showrooms in 2008, in large part to free up resources to bring its next generation of large pickups and sport utility vehicles to market quicker. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 20, 2005 - The UAW agreed to raise health care costs for it's members at Chrysler. You can bet GM and Ford will be watching this one closely. In "Trades News Articles"
Rick Wagoner President and Chairman of General Motors is being forced to confront whether the Detroit behemoth must shrink to live. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 19, 2005 - With GM doing so poorly in the marketplace is it time to dump it's president Rick Wagoner? Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Mar 18, 2005 - GM is expected to call on the UAW in the states to dig deep to aid the company now that it has laid bare its dismal financial outlook for the year. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Mar 17, 2005 - The Detroit News has an article today trying to explain why GM's North American sales are falling faster than the overall market. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 16, 2005 - GM., the world's biggest automaker, slashed its earnings projections Wednesday as it gave 315 layoff notices to Windsor transmission employees. Looks like bad news all around. In "Trades News Articles"
Jerry Flint says today in an article in Forbes that the root of all of GM's woes is that Its top people really don't understand the automobile business. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Mar 15, 2005 - Buzz Hargrove chimes off on the CAW web site about the Beacon Project. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Mar 14, 2005 - GM has announced that its subsidiary in India is to more than double production in the country in order to cope with demand. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 12, 2005 - For those that have to pay the EI clawback this year, download this form so you can apply for the reimbursement.
Mar 10, 2005 - Oshawa has posted on their web site, the Oshaworker newsletter for March 2005. There is always a link to these newsletters from our "Automotive News Sources" links.
Mar 9, 2005 - Doug Orr's Chair report for March 9th is posted on the CAW199 web site today regarding the trades buyouts and derates in the HFV6 and the 4t65 transmission area. The buyout numbers have changed since that report was written. Electricians are now 15 and Millwrights are now 9. You will also find a link in "Trades News Articles"
As health care costs continue to hang over Detroit automakers, it's easy to view investments in Canada -- such as General Motors Corp.'s recent announcement to invest $2 billion in Ontario -- as an effort to flee a broken U.S. system. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 8, 2005 - General Motors Corp. gave a progress report Monday on the company's efforts to create automobiles of tomorrow by promoting hydrogen fuel cell technology, a goal that continues to be fraught with problems. In "Trades News Articles"
GM said on Monday it will take a charge of $121 million before taxes in the first quarter to write down an assembly plant slated to be idled this year in Lansing Michigan that has been building the Grand AM and the Malibu Classic. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 6, 2005 - On Thursday in the St. Catharines Standard, Doug Harod wrote an article entitled "Ceremony at GM plant had feel of something cobbled together". Read the full article in "Trades News Articles"
GM has reached a deal with it's German auto workers for increased flexibility in work schedules in return for a no-layoff pledge through to 2010. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 3, 2005 - The CAW union hopes to apply for a union certification vote at Toyota's Cambridge, Ont., operations by early next month, a top union official said Tuesday. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Read the article in today's Globe and Mail where Doug Orr slams the timing of the announcement of the St. Catharines investments. We are glad that Doug is getting the word out on this and the Globe is a good place to do it. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 2, 2005 - Doug Orr has put out the Chairperson's report stating that the press release by General Motors and the Government today was nothing but a big snow job. Must have been a big circle jerk in there today between the company and the politicians. (Can I say that?) In "Trades News Articles"
The investments in the Beacon Project have been announced and the St. Catharines operations get SQUAT!!! The DOD engine that they are going to build there by the press release is being built already. The money has been spent and the layoffs will continue. We must now apologise to everyone for thinking we would have a job after this. In "Trades News Articles"
Mar 1, 2005 - General Motors of Canada Ltd. will reveal tomorrow a $2.5 billion investment for its Canadian operations, including about $400 million in aid from the federal and provincial governments. Keep your fingers crossed boys. In "Trades News Articles"
The Globe and Mail article about the Beacon Project and sketchy details about St. Catharines can be found in "Trades News Articles"
January - February 2005 updates |
