Job Creation & Labor

GM To Hire Up To 500 For TX Computer Center

September 7, 2012 10:00 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

General Motors is opening a new computer center in Austin, Texas, where it plans to hire up to 500 people. The automaker said Friday that it will hire software developers, project managers, database experts and business analysts to run the first of several information technology innovation centers it plans to open in the U.S.

AL, MS Plants Losing 261 Jobs To Prison Labor

September 6, 2012 12:09 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A company that makes clothes for the U.S. military will shutter plants in Alabama and Mississippi, shedding about 260 jobs total, as federal inmates begin manufacturing the apparel inside prisons. The Tuscaloosa News reported Wednesday that American Power Source will close a plant that employs 119 people in Fayette, located in west Alabama, and another one that employs 142 people in Columbus, Miss.

Samsung In Hot Seat Over Abusing Chinese Workers

September 5, 2012 10:29 am | by Youkyung Lee, AP Technology Writer | News | Comments

Fresh off a billion-dollar loss in a patent fight with rival smartphone maker Apple, embattled Samsung Electronics Co. now finds itself accused by a labor rights group of mistreating workers in China and illegally using child labor. The New York based-China Labor Watch said its investigation into workplace conditions at eight factories in China showed some employees were working more than 100 hours per month of overtime.

Subaru's Strong Sales Might Boost IN Plant Work

September 5, 2012 10:26 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Strong sales figures for Subaru could lead to increased production at its central Indiana factory. Subaru reported August sales up more than 35 percent from a year ago, joining other automakers in pushing U.S. sales to their highest level in three years.

U.S. Steel, Union Agree On Pact For 16,000 Workers

September 4, 2012 10:30 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

U.S. Steel and the United Steelworkers announced a tentative agreement Sunday on a three-year contract covering more than 16,000 workers at domestic facilities. Details of the contract were not announced. The union said members will vote after reviewing details over the next few weeks.

Hyundai Motor Union Approves Deal, Ends Strike

September 4, 2012 10:27 am | by Youkyung Lee, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

Hyundai Motor's labor union has voted to accept a deal for increased wages and the elimination of overnight shifts, ending one of the costliest strikes ever at South Korea's largest car maker. The union, which elected a hardline leader at the end of last year, walked out on July 13, starting the first strike at Hyundai in four years.

Samsung To Audit All Of Its Suppliers In China

September 4, 2012 10:23 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Samsung said it plans to examine all of its Chinese suppliers for possible violations of labor policies. Samsung Electronics Co. said it will carry out audits of 105 Chinese companies that are its exclusive suppliers this month. The move comes after Samsung's audit of a supplier, HEG Electronics, in response to an allegation it used child labor.

Is The Ongoing Mortgage Crisis Harming Our Manufacturing Skills Crisis?

August 31, 2012 8:46 am | by AJ Sweatt | Blogs | Comments

I’m not going to get into who or what caused the housing & mortgage crisis in this country. And I’m not gonna offer any recommendations on what we could be doing to fix it. What has me curious is why we’re not seeing more concern in manufacturing about its impact on hiring and the lack of talent to grow manufacturing and accelerate reshoring & innovation in the US.

Hyundai Motor Reaches Deal With Labor Union

August 30, 2012 2:13 pm | by Youkyung Lee, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

Hyundai and its labor union reached a tentative agreement to eliminate night shifts and increase wages, moving closer to end Hyundai's first strike in four years. The agreement means that workers will halt strikes they have been staging since July, which have resulted in $1.4B of lost output for South Korea's largest carmaker, the company said.

Sharp Seeks 2,000 Early Retirements For Job Cuts

August 29, 2012 10:13 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Money-losing Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. is calling for about 2,000 early retirement applications under its turnaround plan. Under that plan, announced earlier this month, Sharp is trimming 5,000 jobs, or nearly 9 percent of its global work force, during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013.

Tennessee Plant Laying Off 35 Workers

August 29, 2012 10:11 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

An agricultural equipment company is laying off 35 workers in West Tennessee. According to The Jackson Sun, Behlen Manufacturing will shift work to its plants in Columbus, Neb., or Baker City, Ore., and maintain only a distribution center in Huntingdon. The employees being laid off by Oct. 31 will be offered jobs at the other two plants.

Tuscumbia Roofing Manufacturer Plans Expansion

August 28, 2012 2:26 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A roofing products manufacturer is expanding its operation in Tuscumbia in the Shoals area and will create about 40 new jobs. Officials with Firestone Building Products announced Monday plans to expand the facility that makes the commercial roofing material thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO).

Schnitzer Steel To Cut 300 Jobs In Restructuring

August 28, 2012 10:27 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. said Tuesday it will cut about 300 jobs as part of a restructuring plan designed to save the company $25 million in annual operating costs. The company also issued earnings guidance for the current quarter well below average Wall Street predictions, blaming lower sale prices for many of its products.

CAW Union Supports Strike Mandate

August 27, 2012 2:07 pm | by Rob Gillies, Associated Press | News | Comments

Workers with the Canadian Auto Union have voted overwhelmingly to go on strike if the union isn't able to reach agreements with the Detroit three automakers. The Canadian Auto Workers union said Monday Chrysler workers have voted 99 percent in favor of strike action if necessary. Workers at General Motors have voted 98 percent in favor while workers at Ford voted 97 percent authorized a work stoppage.

Toyota Says Indiana Factory Adding Jobs This Fall

August 27, 2012 2:05 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Toyota Motor Corp. says it is hiring the first wave of new employees this fall for an expected 400-person addition to the workforce at its southwestern Indiana factory. Toyota officials said Monday that they planned to have about 240 more production workers on the job at the Princeton factory by the end of November.

Police Break Up Curtiss-Wright Picketing In PA

August 27, 2012 2:04 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Police have broken up a picket line that briefly kept vehicles and non-striking workers out of a Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corp. plant near Pittsburgh. The Valley News Dispatch in Tarentum was reporting Monday that police were called after more than 100 strikers blocked the plant in Harmar Township, about 15 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Lockheed Martin To Cut 550 Jobs At Marietta Plant

August 23, 2012 2:20 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Aerospace firm Lockheed Martin is cutting 550 jobs at its metro Atlanta plant as production of its C-130 aircraft slows, officials said. The move was announced Wednesday but is already under way, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Rally, Food Drive Set For Striking WV Workers

August 22, 2012 1:57 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A rally and food drive are being organized to benefit striking workers at Constellium's aluminum rolling plant in Ravenswood, West Virginia. More than 700 United Steelworkers members went on strike August 5 after contract talks broke down.

Governor, Mayor To Open Detroit Auto Supplier

August 22, 2012 1:48 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to join Detroit Mayor Dave Bing on Wednesday morning at the grand opening of an auto parts supply company expected to employ about 500 people. Detroit Manufacturing Systems on Southfield Road is expected to bring hundreds of high-tech, automotive interior component assembly jobs to the city.

Apple Labor Fixes In China Said Ahead Of Schedule

August 22, 2012 10:22 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The labor group hired by Apple Inc. to assess working conditions at three manufacturing plants in China said Tuesday that the improvements it recommended in March are being implemented ahead of schedule. The Fair Labor Association said in a progress report that Apple Inc.'s largest supplier, Foxconn, had made all 195 improvements to working conditions that were due by the end of May.

Vestas To Lay Off Some 1,400 Workers

August 22, 2012 10:16 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world's biggest maker of wind turbines, says it is slashing 7 percent of its workforce in its second round of lay-offs this year. The western Denmark-based group says the job cuts of 1,400 workers will help it reduce fixed costs by more than €250 million ($310 million) as it deals with stiff competition and a market slowdown.

Nippon Thermostat To Expand WV Facility

August 22, 2012 10:15 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Nippon Thermostat of America is planning to expand its Putnam County facility, creating 30 jobs. West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says the company is expected to invest $4 million in the expansion that will more than double the current workforce at the plant.

Georgia-Pacific Closing Duluth Hardboard Plant

August 21, 2012 2:14 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Georgia-Pacific will permanently close its plant in Duluth at the end of the month, company officials said. Workers at the plant, which employs 140, were notified of the decision Tuesday morning. "The employees are welcome to apply for any other jobs we have" at other facilities, said Eric Abercrombie, Georgia-Pacific spokesman in Atlanta.

CAT's Striking Joliet Workers Ratify Deal

August 20, 2012 10:16 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Nearly 800 striking workers at the Caterpillar Inc. plant in Joliet ratified a new contract Friday with the heavy equipment manufacturer after spending months on the picket line. Caterpillar said in a statement that members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted to approve the new proposal.

Steel Coating Company Announces WV Expansion

August 20, 2012 10:03 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The Wheeling-Nisshin steel coating company has announced a $28 million expansion to produce a new product at its Brooke County facility. The company's new line is called ZAM, a combination of zinc, aluminum and magnesium. Company officials say it's highly corrosion-resistant and environmentally friendly.