UNION STRATEGY, UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES, ANECDOTAL SIGNS

 the aftermath of government intervention, 'controlled' bankruptcy of GM, and the mass downsizing of the domestic auto industry, the United Auto Workers union has seen its membership ranks shrink in despite of outreach efforts. The union, which boasted as many as 1.5 million members at its peak in 1979, had fewer than 400,000 members at the end of 2009.

The union leadership has image issues from it political alignment with the Obama administration and historically from its combative relationship with management at Ford Motor, General Motors and Chrysler Group.  However, backed by a $800 million war chest, King is pushing forward with a campaign to unionize plants operated by German and Asian companies. The effort includes a set of 11 organizing principles that the union wants companies to agree to.

The principles would ensure fair elections free from intimidation and misinformation on the part of both companies and the union, according to King.

The push to unionize foreign-based automakers comes as the UAW is soon to begin negotiations with GM (GM), Ford (F) and Chrysler to renew labor contracts that expire in September.

Is the "new" leadership under King making a difference ... only time will tell ... The new GM plant in central Mexico should increase membership without much negotiations.  Apparently the UAW doesn't care about jobs in the USA.  With their war chest their vision is over the horizon into the global arena. 

Two years have passed since GM accepted $50 billion. GM has repaid a portion of that rescue aid, and the government reduced its ownership of GM from 61 percent to 37 percent after the company’s public stock offering in November. A major stockholder (i.e., American Public) is now investing $540 million in a plant in central Mexico with some 1,000 jobs ... oh but I guess that translates into about 4 to 5 thousand Mexicans that will stay in Mexico and not burden the USA or does it?

Mexico's auto sector, a key driver of industrial activity, is closely tied to demand from the United States and it has helped the domestic economy rebound from a deep recession. Auto production was up 50 percent for 2010 compared with 2009 while exports were up 52 percent in that period. [NOT SURE HOW, WAS THAT A STATISTIC OR AN ANECDOTAL SIGN]

Mexico Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate in Mexico was last reported at 5.6 percent in November of 2010. From 2000 until 2010, Mexico's Unemployment Rate averaged 3.45 percent reaching an historical high of 5.93 percent in May of 2009 and a record low of 2.22 percent in November of 2002. The labour force is defined as the number of people employed plus the number unemployed but seeking work. The nonlabour force includes those who are not looking for work, those who are institutionalised and those serving in the military. This page includes: Mexico Unemployment Rate chart, historical data and news.

United States Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate in the United States was last reported at 9.40 percent in December of 2010. From 1948 until 2010 the United States' Unemployment Rate averaged 5.70 percent reaching an historical high of 10.80 percent in November of 1982 and a record low of 2.50 percent in May of 1953. The labour force is defined as the number of people employed plus the number unemployed but seeking work. The nonlabour force includes those who are not looking for work, those who are institutionalised and those serving in the military. This page includes: United States Unemployment Rate chart, historical data and news.