Damon Lavrinc
Ford, UAW/Unions

Ford stands as the last domestic automaker in the process of negotiating its labor contract with the UAW, and details of the new contract have begun to hit the web. The Detroit News has an in-depth article on what's gone down thus far, but for those of us with attention spans akin to meth-addled Chihuahuas, they put together a listing of the major elements of the new contract, while comparing and contrasting what Ford's cross-town rivals have already agreed to.

On the job side of the equation, two-tier wages will be enacted for new employees until 20-percent of the work force lies in the lower wage bracket. Employees currently in the "Job Bank" have one year to either pick a new position or quit the company, compared to GM's "take the first, or take the second, then you're done" setup, or Chryslers two-year term in the Bank. Another health care VEBA is planned for Ford retirees, with a 40-percent cash infusion, compared to GM's 54-percent and Chrysler's 59-percent.

Ford will shutter two additional manufacturing centers – the Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant and the Ohio Assembly Plant – and won't close any other plants aside from those already announced. The money they didn't contribute to the VEBA will be invested into plants, specifically to make these centers more flexible so they can manufacture any vehicle in the Blue Oval's arsenal. Ford will also make product commitments to the Wayne plant and a few other facilities.

You can read the entire summary by click the "Read" link below.

[Source: Detroit News]

Source: Details emerge on Ford/UAW contract

Lascelles Linton
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/business_finance/Toyota_launches_largest_ad_campaign_in_company_s_history'; Toyota has launched its "Why Not?" campaign, the "biggest, broadest corporate campaign in its history" according to Ad Age. Toyota would not discuss how much it will cost but the spending on the national TV, print and online ads in America, is expected to well exceed the $40 M they spent last year on ads. The campaign will run through March and focus on three corporate pillars; environmental commitment, economic impact and social responsibility. The ads were created by Dentsu America, New York; Toyota choose the theme of "Why Not?" after 6 months of consumer research.

Why is Toyota doing this? Toyota has received a lot of bad press recently such as green groups attacking them over a proposed CAFE standard and losing a recommendation from Consumer Reports. We admit to adding a few articles to the pile, noting decreases in Highlander's safety rating and 2009 Corolla's fuel efficiency. Steve Sturm, Toyota's VP-strategic research, says there is no connection between the new ads and the recent bad press, that the ads are just a way for America to better understand Toyota's corporate image.

The website toyota.com/whynot has two print ads, video of the TV commercial "Harmony" and making of the TV commercial. The Harmony commercial features a car made from twigs, mud, etc. by three people that slowly fades in time lapse images into the natural environment. The voice over asks "Can a car company grow in harmony with the environment? Why not?" and explains Toyota is working towards cars with zero emissions and "zero waste" in everything they do. Ad Age is not amused writing "striving isn't accomplishing, and it strikes us as a bit disingenuous to be selling some unattainable vision of the future."

We will have more on the "Why Not?" ads as they appear through March. Tell us what you think of the ads and if you see any of them we miss when they appear on NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press, Nightline, 20-plus magazines and even on PBS, part of a sponsorship package of Nature.

[Source: Ad Age]

Source: Toyota launches "Why Not?" ad campaign, the largest in the company's history

Not one to fear revealing his age, TTAC's Frank Williams says the key to his '65 Dodge Coronet unlocked and started at least four cars: his parents' '64 Plymouth Belvedere and '67 Plymouth Fury; a co-worker's '66 Dodge Polara, and a '68 Valiant belonging to a customer at the grocery store that employed the future blogger. Ancient history, from the time before encryption, yes? Uh, no. KUTV 's consumer sleuth has uncovered the secret truth behind a spate of damage-free break-ins inflicted upon GM vehicles: "master" keys. "Bobbo's friend and co-worker, Clay Collett, owns a 1997 Chevy Blazer. And guess what?  The key for Bobbo’s truck opens Clay’s SUV and vice versa Clay’s key opens Bobbo’s door… When we first called General Motors about all this, the spokesperson said there are only so many combinations possible…but he had not heard of any issue with GM keys in the past. Is that so? At Bob’s Lock & Key in west valley, they say they’ve known all about the GM door key situation for GM cars for more than 10 years… when technicians learn that the vehicle is a GM between ‘94 and ‘04, they start with the key from their own Chevrolet service vans. Bob’s say their own GM keys opens the locks of other GM vehicles more than half the time." KUTV's Gephart says Chevy's tackled the problem– leaving owners of vehicles made between 1994 - 2004 SOL. The only possible remedy: change the door locks.

KUTV.com »

Source: One Key To Unlock Them All