Job Creation & Labor

Bangladesh Fire Victims Want Old Jobs Back

December 3, 2012 10:10 am | by Julhas Alam, Associated Press | News | Comments

As 112 of her co-workers died in a garment-factory fire, Dipa Akter got out by jumping from the third floor through a hole made by breaking apart an exhaust fan. Her left leg is wrapped in bandages and she has trouble walking. Now she wants back in.

GA Officials Reach Out To Former Hostess Workers

November 30, 2012 2:08 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

State officials in Georgia are reaching out to over 500 people who lost their jobs in the recent Hostess company liquidation. Officials say 558 people in Georgia were impacted by the closure of Hostess Brands Inc. earlier this month. The Governor's Office of Workplace Development and the Georgia Department of Labor are asking job seekers to visit their local department of labor career center for information on unemployment insurance.

German Automotive Supplier Opening KY Plant

November 30, 2012 2:03 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The German automotive supplier iwis is planning to open a manufacturing plant in Murray, creating 75 jobs in the western Kentucky city. Gov. Steve Beshear joined company officials to make that announcement on Friday. It will be the firm's first manufacturing plant in the U.S. Beshear said the $12.5 million investment was the result of an economic mission he made to Germany earlier this year.

Light Bulb Maker Osram Cutting 4,700 Jobs

November 30, 2012 10:15 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG's light bulb unit, Osram, says it is cutting 4,700 additional jobs in its drive to save costs and phase out older technologies. Company spokesman Stefan Schmidt told The Associated Press on Friday the cuts come on top of others previously announced, for a total of at least 7,300 reductions through 2014.

Gun Makers To Expand, Add Jobs In AR

November 30, 2012 10:09 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Two firearms companies owned by a German group said Thursday they would spend $7 million on manufacturing plants at a former military installation near Fort Smith and create from 70 to 120 jobs in the next five years. Umarex USA already has offices at the Chaffee Crossing center and will share a campus with Walther Arms on the east side of town, where the U.S. Army formerly operated Fort Chaffee.

Samsung Finds Labor Violations At China Suppliers

November 26, 2012 2:10 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Samsung Electronics Co. says its audit of Chinese suppliers found illegal labor practices such as excessive overtime. Samsung said Monday it found instances of Chinese employees working overtime beyond legal hours and being fined for absence or tardiness. Samsung conducted a four week audit of 105 suppliers in China after allegations it was ignoring illegal labor practices.

Judge Asks Hostess To Mediate With Union

November 20, 2012 10:17 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The tasty cream-filled golden spongecakes known as Twinkies won't die that easily after all. Hostess Brands Inc. and its second largest union will go into mediation to try and resolve their differences, meaning the company won't go out of business just yet. The news came Monday after Hostess moved to liquidate and sell off its assets in bankruptcy court citing a crippling strike last week.

America, The Blend Hub

November 20, 2012 8:06 am | by Mike Rainone, Co-founder, PCDworks | Blogs | Comments

I’m beginning to think that a key to more American jobs could be a closer connection between European and American businesses — if we can only understand what it is that makes our nation an attractive place to do business. To get a little context, let me share my recent experiences, and examine the lessons that might be learned from them.

Pratt & Whitney Expands Florida Plant

November 16, 2012 10:33 am | by AP | News | Comments

Pratt & Whitney is expanding its aircraft engine plant in West Palm Beach with help from Florida taxpayers. The $63 million project is expected to result in 230 new jobs. The company currently employs about 1,000 people in Florida. The state and Palm Beach County contributed $4.4 million in incentives toward the expansion project.

Manufacturing Skills Gap Less Pervasive Than Thought

November 16, 2012 8:06 am | by The Boston Consulting Group | Articles | Comments

The skills gap in U.S. manufacturing today is more limited than many people believe and is unlikely to prevent a projected resurgence in U.S. manufacturing by the end of this decade. But more severe shortages could develop, threatening to constrain that revival, unless aggressive steps are taken now, according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Chrysler To Add 1,250 Jobs At Detroit Plants

November 15, 2012 2:28 pm | by Dee-Ann Durbin, Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writers | News | Comments

Chrysler plans to add up to 1,250 jobs at three Detroit-area factories as it prepares for a rise in pickup sales. The company said Thursday that it will invest $238 million at engine plants in Detroit and suburban Trenton, Mich., and add a third shift at a pickup truck factory in nearby Warren, Mich.

Rolls-Royce To Build New VA Manufacturing Facility

November 14, 2012 2:40 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce is planning to build a new Virginia facility to produce turbine blades for its engines. The company said Wednesday that it is investing $136 million to develop the advanced airfoil machining facility in Prince George County, creating 140 jobs.

Smithfield Foods To Begin Layoffs At VA Plant

November 14, 2012 2:33 pm | by Michael Felberbaum, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

Smithfield Foods Inc. said it will begin its previously announced shutdown of a Virginia facility that makes hot dogs and deli meat. The first layoffs at the Smithfield Packing Co. facility will involve about 120 workers, with more than 400 workers affected by the time plant is closed, said Jeff Gough, Smithfield's senior vice president for human resources.

Governors Call For Wind Energy Tax Credit Renewal

November 14, 2012 10:28 am | by Jeff Barnard, Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press | News | Comments

The fate of a tax credit that advocates say is needed to maintain tens of thousands of wind energy jobs will be decided during high-stakes, last-minute negotiations between President Obama and House Republicans over fiscal issues, officials said Tuesday.

Savannah Firm To Add Up To 200 New Jobs

November 14, 2012 10:20 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A machine company has announced plans for an expansion of its Savannah facility that is expected to add up to 200 jobs. The Savannah Morning News reports (http://bit.ly/ZEUp0M) that K Machine Industrial Services LLC announced the expansion Tuesday, at a meeting of the Savannah Economic Development Authority.

Hostess Closing 3 Bakeries Following Strike

November 13, 2012 10:29 am | by Sarah Skidmore, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

Hostess Brands Inc. is permanently closing three bakeries following a nationwide strike by its bakers union. The maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread said Monday that the strike has prevented it from producing and delivering products, and it is closing bakeries in Seattle, St. Louis and Cincinnati. The facilities employ 627 workers.

Hostess Workers Picket In Sacramento

November 12, 2012 10:11 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

About a dozen workers began picketing at a Hostess Brands plant in Sacramento honoring a bakers' union strike at the bankrupt company's plants across the country. The picket line formed on Sunday, two days after the walkout began when the maker of Twinkies, Wonder Bread and Ding Dongs imposed a contract that would cut wages by 8 percent.

Machinists Union Approves New Bombardier Contract

November 12, 2012 10:06 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers approved a five-year contract with Bombardier Learjet on Saturday, putting an end to the month-long walkout. The workers could return to the Wichita plant as soon as Monday.

Creativity And The Organization

November 9, 2012 4:09 pm | by Mike Collins, Author, Saving American Manufacturing | Blogs | Comments

I believe that creativity can’t happen without changing from a rigid organization that depends on control, rules, and a formal structure to a flexible and less formalized organization where employees are encouraged to take risks, experiment, and question the status quo without reprisal.

Appliance Parts Plant Closing To Cut 620 NC Jobs

November 9, 2012 2:18 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

About 620 workers will lose their jobs when a North Carolina factory that makes electrical connectors for household appliances shuts down in 2013. It is one of the state's largest announced layoffs this year. A spokesman for Swiss electronics maker TE Connectivity said Thursday the company will shut a Greensboro factory beginning in January.

Energizer To Cut 10 Percent Of Workforce

November 9, 2012 10:24 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Energizer plans to cut roughly 10 percent of its workforce as part of a cost-cutting overhaul. The St. Louis-based company said Thursday that it expects to shed about 1,500 employees. When finished, the restructuring should lead to $200 million in pretax yearly savings, Energizer said. It aims to have most of its restructuring steps finished by the end of September 2014.

Adapting For The “Chronologically Gifted” Worker

November 8, 2012 5:17 pm | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | Articles | Comments

Josh Kerst, vice president of Humantech, debunks common myths about the older workers in the industry, and offers key changes that manufacturers can make to embrace a safe and productive older workforce. “The workforce is getting more chronologically gifted,” says Josh Kerst, vice president of Humantech, an ergonomics and workplace improvement company.

Q & A With Bernie Anger, GE Intelligent Platforms

November 8, 2012 4:08 pm | by Mike Schmidt. Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | Articles | Comments

As automation technology has developed over the years, workers have been forced to adapt and refine the necessary skills to utilize and maintain various systems. According to Bernie Anger, General Manager Control and Communication System for GE Intelligent Platforms, there is a shortage of individuals with the expertise necessary to accomplish these tasks and usher in the future of automation.

Hawker Beechcraft To Close 3 Facilities, Cut Jobs

November 8, 2012 1:19 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Wichita-based airplane maker Hawker Beechcraft says it's closing facilities in three states and laying off more workers in Kansas. The company said Wednesday that 240 employees will lose their jobs with the closing of Hawker Beechcraft Services facilities in Little Rock, Ark.; Mesa, Ariz.; and San Antonio, Texas.

CAT: Production Cuts Will Run Into 2013

November 7, 2012 10:21 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Caterpillar Inc. says it will continue to idle factories and cut production into next year due to a slowdown in demand for its mining and construction equipment. Mike DeWalt is director of investor relations for Peoria-based Caterpillar. Crain's Chicago Business says DeWalt said that Caterpillar has been hard hit by a slowdown in mining.