Job Creation & Labor

China Automaker To Open CA Electric Bus Plant

May 1, 2013 10:16 am | by John Rogers, Associated Press | News | Comments

A Chinese company whose mantra is Build Your Dreams plans to build all-electric buses in California's Mojave Desert. Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris and officials of BYD Automotive scheduled a news conference Wednesday to announce plans to open the first Chinese-owned vehicle manufacturing plant in the United States in the wind-swept high-desert city 60 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

Jury Deliberates In IA Worker Abuse Case

May 1, 2013 10:12 am | by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press | News | Comments

A government attorney asked jurors Tuesday to award damages to 32 mentally disabled workers, saying they were subjected to around-the-clock discrimination by a Texas company that profited from their work at an Iowa turkey plant. qual Employment Opportunity Commission attorney Robert Canino said the former workers for Henry's Turkey Services suffered "broken lives" because of the conditions they endured.

Heat, Air Conditioning Maker Expanding Dayton

April 30, 2013 1:41 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Goodman Manufacturing will expand its plant in Dayton, creating 200 new jobs. State and company officials announced Tuesday that Goodman is investing $2 million in the plant in Rhea County, which makes commercial and light commercial heating and air conditioning equipment.

Caterpillar To Close Summerville Plant

April 30, 2013 10:11 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Caterpillar says it plans to close its Summerville remanufacturing plant next year, a move that will put 280 people out of work. The Post and Courier of Charleston reports the company said Monday that the decision came after an extensive strategic review of the business.

Japan Manufacturing, Hiring Rise In March

April 30, 2013 10:08 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

Japan manufacturing and employment showed slight improvements in March, buttressing hopes that the economy may be headed for a moderate recovery. Factory output rose 0.2 percent, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday, in the fourth straight monthly increase. It pointed to strength in chemicals, electrical components, telecommunications equipment and steam turbines.

Yokohama: Tire Demand Calls For U.S. Plant

April 30, 2013 10:06 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Executives with Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. say they will build a new tire plant in Mississippi because they see a global supply shortage for tires. The company plans to invest $300 million, hiring 500 people, in a first phase, and could invest $1.2 billion, hiring 2,000 people, over time. State and local governments could give more than $340 million in aid and tax breaks.

Goodyear, Union Begin Contract Talks For 6 Plants

April 29, 2013 2:24 pm | by Thomas J. Sheeran, Associated Press | News | Comments

With the backdrop of an uncertain economy, shrinking unions and company cost-cutting, Goodyear and the Steelworkers are negotiating on a new national contract covering 8,000 tire workers at six plants. The first round of talks in Cincinnati ended Thursday and recessed.

MS Lawmakers Pass Incentives For Tire Maker

April 29, 2013 10:09 am | by Jeff Amy, Associated Press | News | Comments

A Japanese company will get incentives that could be worth more than $330 million to build a tire manufacturing plant in Clay County. Mississippi lawmakers quickly passed the bill intended for Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. in a Friday special session, with House members supporting it 117-2 and Senate members supporting it unanimously. The entire session took less than four hours.

Caterpillar Laying Off About 60 At IL Plant

April 26, 2013 5:02 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Caterpillar Inc. is laying off about 60 employees at a plant in central Illinois as the company deals with declining profits. The Journal Star in Peoria reports that Caterpillar said Thursday that it will lay off workers at a foundry in Mapleton starting in early May. The town is just south of Peoria, where Caterpillar is based.

S. Korea Demands Talks With N. Korea On Closed Factory

April 25, 2013 2:16 pm | by Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press | News | Comments

After weeks of threatening rhetoric from the North, South Korea on Thursday promised its own unspecified "grave measures" if Pyongyang rejects talks on a jointly run factory park shuttered for nearly a month. The park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong is the most significant casualty so far in the recent deterioration of relations between the Koreas.

Outokumpu To Cut 2,500 Jobs

April 25, 2013 2:13 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Finnish metals group Outokumpu Oyj says it will slash 2,500 jobs worldwide in the next four years to cut costs by 350 million euros ($455 million) and improve profitability as stainless steel demand continues to fall. The world's leading stainless steel maker says about a third of the job cuts will be applied this year, mostly in Germany, Sweden and Finland, in line with production capacity reductions and streamlining.

SC Governor Signs Boeing Incentives Bill

April 24, 2013 10:10 am | by Seanna Adcox, Associated Press | News | Comments

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Tuesday signed legislation to provide $120 million in incentives to the Boeing Co. for its expansion plans in the state. "Boeing is a part of the fabric of South Carolina, and this solidifies our relationship with Boeing going forward," Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey said.

EEOC Seeks Damages For Disabled IA Plant Workers

April 23, 2013 2:14 pm | by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press | News | Comments

A now-defunct Texas company that put mentally disabled men to work at an Iowa turkey plant for decades is due in court to defend itself against allegations that it subjected the men to physical and verbal abuse. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Henry's Turkey Service on behalf of 32 former workers.

Kalamazoo's Bell's Brewery Plans MI Plant

April 23, 2013 10:18 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Bells Brewery Inc. is seeking the Escanaba City Council's approval Thursday to buy property and build a manufacturing plant in the Upper Peninsula city. MLive.com reports that the Kalamazoo-based beer-maker on Friday offered $35,000 for 3.15 acres in the Whitetail Industrial Park. Bell's offer says it will build the plant within 18 months and says it will employ five people.

Canadian Company Plans SD Wind Tower Plant

April 22, 2013 2:10 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A Canada-based company plans to manufacture wind towers in a building it purchased in the eastern South Dakota city of Brandon. The Argus Leader reports that Marmen Inc. promotes itself as the largest wind tower manufacturer in North America. The company has said it plans to hire 200 people at the new plant.

Survey: U.S. Budget Tightening Not Hurting Business

April 22, 2013 10:15 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Washington's budget tightening is having a minimal effect on businesses, a survey of business economists released Monday shows. The National Association for Business Economics survey asks how higher taxes and lower government spending effected businesses in the first three months of 2013.

IL Auto Parts Maker Gets State Help To Expand

April 19, 2013 4:03 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is giving an auto parts maker $4.4 million in tax breaks and other incentives after the company agreed to add 300 jobs at its plant in eastern Illinois. The department said Thursday that North American Lighting Inc. will add the jobs at its plant in Paris as part of a $50 million expansion.

Toyota To Build Lexus ES 350 At KY Plant

April 19, 2013 10:19 am | by Toyota | News | Comments

For the first time, a Lexus vehicle will be produced in the United States. The Lexus ES 350 will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky in 2015, Toyota announced today. The move will generate 750 new jobs. To support the new dedicated assembly line, Toyota will invest $360 million in the Georgetown plant.

U.S. Unemployment Aid Applications Rise To 352K

April 19, 2013 10:13 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | Comments

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits increased just 4,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 352,000. The slight gain kept applications at a level consistent with solid hiring and suggests March's sluggish hiring may be temporary.

German Industry Pay Offer Short Of Union Demand

April 19, 2013 10:10 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Employers in Germany's key manufacturing sector are offering a pay increase that falls well short of the 5.5 percent raise a union is seeking for some 3.7 million workers. The employers' association in the southern region of Bavaria is offering a 2.3 percent increase over a 13-month period, news agency dpa reported Friday. The IG Metall union is seeking the bigger raise as part of a 12-month deal.

New Businesses Bring Jobs To Appomattox

April 18, 2013 2:18 pm | by ABC13 | Videos | Comments

Things are looking up for business in Appomattox: Tractor Supply is almost ready to open their doors and the locally owned TriTech Solutions just recently popped up. Three local entrepreneurs started the most recent TriTech Solutions. Members of the town say this business has the potential, and the precision, to go a long way.

VW Dropping Third Shift At Chattanooga Plant

April 18, 2013 2:07 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Volkswagen is dropping the third assembly shift at its Chattanooga plant. As first reported by WRCB-TV, the move will eliminate 500 temporary jobs. Volkswagen spokesman Guenther Scherelis said strong domestic demand for the Passat drove adding the third shift.

SC House Approves $120M For Boeing Expansion

April 18, 2013 2:05 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Legislation giving the Boeing Co. $120 million in incentives for their expansion plans in South Carolina is one vote away from reaching the governor's desk. The House voted 115-2 Wednesday to approve the bill. Another vote would send it to Gov. Nikki Haley, who is sure to sign it. The Senate approved the measure last week.

Ozark Manufacturer Announces $26M Expansion

April 17, 2013 2:01 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

State officials say SGL Carbon will invest $26 million in the company's manufacturing plant in Ozark, where it will add a new workshop. SGL Carbon now employs 90 workers at its plant, which makes graphite electrodes that are used in a process to recycle steel scrap.

Bombardier Ramps Up CSeries Production

April 16, 2013 2:16 pm | by Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press | News | Comments

Bombardier Aerospace doesn't expect to hire more foreign workers to build its new CSeries aircraft despite possible shortages in skilled labour in Canada. The aerospace giant has occasionally hired foreign engineers and temporarily uses its own employees from the U.S., China and Britain.