Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Volkswagen, UAW/Unions
The United Auto Workers group isn't backing down on its efforts to unionize the new Volkswagen manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, according to Automotive News. The union is currently asking workers at the facility to sign a petition of support for organization. The UAW has been meeting informally with workers at the plant for several months, but began handing out authorization cards early this month. Labor laws require a union to submit signature cards from at least 30 percent of the workforce before an election can be held for representation. Unionizing plants owned by foreign automakers is a necessity for the group's survival moving forward, the UAW reiterates. The union has seen membership decline for the past 30 years, resulting in a financial crisis that's been underscored by the United States recession. Automotive News reports the UAW has not told Volkswagen of its efforts to unionize the Chattanooga plant. An announcement may come about the program in early April. The plant currently employs more than 2,700 workers.UAW ramping up efforts to organize VW's Chattanooga plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Europe, Crossover, Jaguar, Rumormill, Luxury
Jaguar has let it slip that the company may be working on a new crossover, and Autocar has gone through the trouble of rendering the machine. According to the report, the company is under pressure to expand into niches traditionally outside of its scope, much as sister company Land Rover has done with the Evoque. That may translate into a new high-riding hatchback based off of an upcoming compact sedan. That's right. Autocar claims Jaguar is out to launch six other "significant" new products over the next two years, and that's excluding the "radical crossover" seen here. Needless to say, the project hasn't gotten the go-ahead from corporate just yet, but if it does, expect to see it built on the company's new modular aluminum "Premium Lightweight Architecture" originally penned for its large vehicles. Jaguar could also borrow the bones of the previously mentioned Evoque for this little science experiment. Those two options present a disparate view of the would-be utility Jaguar. Of course, the model is a very, very long way from becoming reality. Head over to Autocar to see the full rendering.Jaguar's new "radical crossover" rendered originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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