@CorvairOwner/Flickr
Production of the Camaro is coming back to Michigan.
Way, way back in January, just as Indiana Republicans were banning union shops in that state, insisting that it was the only way to grow jobs, the federal government released data showing that Indiana's economy was already bouncing back. By that time, stripping union rights was almost done.
This month, when Michigan Republicans were banning union shops in their state, they said they wanted to be like Indiana. And now they are, in more than just weakening the unions. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that this year, for the first time in a long while, Michigan stopped losing people. Michigan's population grew, just a titch, as people stopped moving away and instead started moving in. Whaddyaknow:
Two of the states where many Michigan residents moved to during the height of the trouble, Nevada and North Carolina, now have higher unemployment rates.
Both Nevada and North Carolina have laws than ban union shops, like the one Michigan just passed. Economic arguments for weakening unions tend not to last. The political effects, for Republicans and against Democrats, are more lasting.
Meanwhile in Michigan, the automobile industry continues to grow. General Motors announced yesterday that it will bring production of the new Camaro from Canada to Michigan. The company says the recent loss of union rights were not a factor. Rather, Camaros are rear-wheel-drive cars, and the plant in Lansing makes that kind of vehicle already, so it's cheaper to be there. Also, in a painful concession, Michigan auto unions had already negotiated lower wages for new workers. Canadian workers have agreed to lower wages for newcomers, but the change is coming in more slowly. To the extent that the Camaro news is about labor costs, Michigan beat Canada to the bottom.
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Just so you know, that pic is NOT of the new Camaro. That one is from the early 1990's.
(But I do give style points for finding a pic of an old State Police Interceptor. Since the State Police still have THEIR bargaining rights.)
So true, so true.
The push for right to work laws is part of the Koch Brothers efforts to make the unlevel labor playing field even more unlevel. Defeat unions and the pathway to political victory is much easier.
Note:
2010 - Koch Brothers net worth - $22 billion EACH -- $44 billiion
2011 - Koch Brothers net worth - $25 billion EACH -- $50 billion
2012 - Koch Brothers net worth - $31 billion EACH -- $62 billion
Don't you think they deserve the seats that they have at the fiscal cliff negotiating table? They certainly do.
Great, they grew a little, here's hoping that by next Election Day their voters grow a brain, or at least a conscience, and give the GOP as little power as possible.
I know/have heard of several colleagues moving to Michigan, specifically Detroit, which is drawing artsy types and musicians for the low cost of living and a bit of an exploding Bohemian arts scene.
Also, they are able to buy great houses for wonderful prices. With a lot more floor space than NYC or even Brooklyn.
OTOH, my academic friends have been in Michigan for a while (former grad school classmates have colonized one entire dept. there), and as far as I can tell, once they got tenure, they didn't even notice the freaky-ass changling state government. Or maybe they were just too embarrassed to burble about it on Facebook.
good to see that US car makers are making solid decisions, like building fuel-inefficient muscle cars that went out of style over a decade ago.
The 1991 Camaro pictured above got 14 mpg. The current model gets over 20 mpg. Still not great, but a 50% improvement with better performance.
The new Camaro, like the new Mustang, borrow heavily from the styling of the 1960s. And they sell very well. Retro style is in style, and the final arbiter is the marketplace.
It's so refreshing to know that in our race to the bottom to compete with India, China and other low/no wage nations we'll be making cars that American workers can no longer afford to purchase......
"Both Nevada and North Carolina have laws than ban union shops,"
Is this true? What about the "Right to freely assemble"?
I think they've changed it to "assemble for free."
Can someone show me where in the RTW law that was passed in Michigan that union shops were banned? or for that matter...where in any state that union shops are banned?
just asking...
Stormguy, Unions have not been banned. Laura Conaway just keeps puking out that same lie in hopes that if she keeps saying it someone will start beleiving it. Hey Laura, UNIONS WERE NOT BANNED. START TELLING THE TRUTH FOR A CHANGE.