Hundreds of thousands of Teamsters will get reports this month on the funding status of their pension fund.

These funding notices are required by the Pension Protection Act (PPA) of 2006 which went into effect on Jan. 1—and some of them will have scary news.

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DETROIT — The UAW strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. that has halted light-truck production at General Motors soon may push the automaker to close its first car assembly plants.
GM could stop building the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 in Lordstown, Ohio, by April 4 because of a shortage of a brake part made by American Axle, according to an Associated Press report. …  story  Published: Mar 27 4:00 pm U.S. Eastern time [REG]

This just In

Rumor has it Ford will announce an Indefinite Layoff starting April 1

Combined with GM’S Axle Strike things couldn’t get any worse for the carhaul Industry

What started as a small, online grassroots effort now appears to have the potential for something bigger.

Dan Little, the owner/operator of a livestock hauling company in Carrollton, Mo., estimated Tuesday that at least 1,000 other truckers from across the United States have committed so far to joining him in a strike on April 1.

READ MORE…. 

UPDATE

Chrysler continues to operate truck, SUV plants

Robert Sherefkin
and Philip Nussel
Automotive News
March 20, 2008 - 3:25 pm ET

DETROIT — Strike-bound American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. has moved some of its parts production for Chrysler LLC from the United States to its operations in Mexico.

” It was a way to protect us from being shut down after the strike began” Chrysler spokeswoman Michele Tinson said today.

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Industrywide U.S. auto sales fell 2.5 percent to 16.15 million vehicles in 2007, the lowest level in a decade. Analysts and industry executives expect further declines in 2008, especially in the first half of the year.

J.D. Power and Associates on Tuesday revised its forecast for 2008 U.S. light vehicle sales to 14.95 million vehicles, down from its earlier estimate for 15.7 million.

Press said: “It’s a challenging economy. The market is facing choppy waters. The entire industry is facing headwinds.”

READ MORE….

  The cost for a gallon of diesel had risen to the $4 mark or above in 23 states as of Tuesday, March 18, according to ProMiles. Truckers continue to watch as prices shatter record highs, and auto workers are also cautiously watching fuel prices as the cost of gasoline inches closer to the $4 mark.

While many truckers are dipping into their reserves to keep their businesses afloat, UAW Local 249 President Jim Stouffer, who represents more than 4,200 workers at the Ford Motor Co. plant in Claycomo, MO, admits he’s worried about how the automotive industry will fare if gas prices hit $4 per gallon.

REAR MORE…. 

March 13, 2008: The sale of PTS has been called off because there was only one qualified bidder, according to papers filed in federal bankruptcy court on March 11.

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July shutdown will be mandatory for most employees
DETROIT — Chrysler LLC plans to shut down for two weeks this summer, according to a memo sent by CEO Bob Nardelli to employees today.
The company will take a ” two-week mandatory shutdown for the weeks of July 7 and July 14,” said Nardelli in the memo.
” As a private company, we need to think like owners and do our part to accelerate Chrysler’s recovery and transformation,” he said. …  story  Published: Mar 13 2:04 pm U.S. Eastern

Some Highlights from todays Posting from the TDU

March 12, 2008: Carhaul bargaining begins on March 17 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

You can take a look for yourself at the union proposals, which TDU is making available to Teamsters. (AVAILABLE TO VIEW)

READ MORE…

PTS Future on the Line

PTS CEO Jeff Cornish is telling Teamsters that he hopes PTS will emerge as a stand-alone company with less debt burden, perhaps with Black Diamond as the dominant owner.

Cornish also issued a letter to PTS employees, in which he says that the March 14 auction to sell PTS has been postponed. READ MORE…

Lawsuit to Stop Concessions Needs Your Help

PTS and Allied Teamsters, along with St Louis Local 604 have filed a motion in federal bankruptcy court to try to prevent…………

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Automotive News
March 7, 2008 - 12:01 am ET
UPDATED: 3/7/08 5:09 p.m. EST

DETROIT — General Motors said Friday that nine more parts plants are cutting shifts and reducing work because of the UAW strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.

The list of affected GM plants now stands at 29, including seven assembly plants.

…………………..

All told, GM has now lost production of 18,315 vehicles a week, according to the Automotive News data center.

Read The Rest of the Article…..

……..UPDATE……..

American Axle threatens to shrink U.S. operations

DETROIT — American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. said late Tuesday that it would consider further shrinking its U.S. operations if the UAW doesn’t agree to lower wages and benefits.

In the statement, the company said it has informed the UAW of its position as the union’s strike against the driveline parts supplier enters its third week.

About 3,600 UAW workers at five U.S. American Axle plants struck the company on Feb. 26. Negotiations have been off-and-on since then. The two sides will reconvene direct contract talks Thursday, the statement said.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE…

Read More…………

David Barkholz
Automotive News
March 6, 2008 - 1:02 pm ET
UPDATED: 3/6/08 4:55 p.m. EST

DETROIT — More than a half-dozen additional General Motors powertrain and casting plants are being affected by the strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.

The engine and component plants aren’t closing completely but are losing shifts and work, said a source familiar with the situation.

GM earlier today said it would shut down its seventh assembly plant because of the 2-week-old UAW strike.

Boydstun Metal Works once again leads the industry with game changing technology. With the introduction of remote deck control on new open and enclosed auto transport equipment, Boydstun operators will have the advantages of security, safer operation and less vehicle damage.

Benefits
• Operators stay close to the decks that are in motion for reduced vehicle damage
• Operation is completely wireless; no restrictions on operator movement
• More secure because drivers keep the controller in their possession
• Can be retrofit into previous models of screw actuator equipment to update fleet
• Deck Commander is weather proof for flawless operation in all conditions
• Decks can be controlled from either side of the truck; wherever conditions are safest
• Deck Commander is recharged between uses for reliable operation time after time

WebSite Link

Soaring corn prices are pushing investors off the ethanol bandwagon. Agribusiness giant Cargill is the latest to step back, suspending plans last week for a $200 million ethanol plant near Topeka, Kan. “It’s basically the cost of corn going in versus the price of ethanol you get going out,” Cargill spokesman Bill Brady told Automotive News.  FULL STORY