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lhwusa
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Joined: 05 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:12 am Post subject: Chrysler to propose 4-day workweek at some plants |
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http://www.wxyz.com/business/story.aspx?content_id=fa74f6ce-4bd8-4e0f-907b-1322765e856a
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Chrysler says it will begin talks soon with the United Auto Workers union about moving some plants to a four-day workweek of 10-hour days.
A spokesman says the automaker will broker the idea of switching from five eight-hour days to union leaders at three plants in Toledo, Ohio, as well as nine other U.S. factories that are not on overtime.
The change would let Chrysler shut parts of the plants for three full days, bringing a significant savings.
The spokesman says it would cut the number of commuting trips to work and give workers Friday, Saturday and Sunday off every week. |
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lhwusa
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:20 am Post subject: |
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TRAVERSE CITY -- As energy costs skyrocket, Chrysler LLC is looking at ways to save money, including, perhaps, a move to workweeks of four 10-hour days at several of its factories.
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"We're looking at doing four 10s across the shops to help reduce energy costs," Chrysler Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Frank Ewasyshyn told the Free Press on Monday.
A shorter workweek had been suggested earlier this summer by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson as an option for employees. It has since spread to other governments and private businesses.
"For us, it's a big energy savings," Ewasyshyn said, "just as it is for employees with gasoline in their cars."
He was in Traverse City on Monday for the Center for Automotive Research's annual Management Briefing Seminars, a weeklong gathering of industry leaders.
Beyond condensing the workweek, the Auburn Hills automaker is looking at a variety of energy savings ideas, from optimizing tire pressure in shipping vehicles to talking with retail companies about sharing freight space.
"With the rising fuel costs, everybody is looking for new ways. ... It's about every ounce of energy you consume," Ewasyshyn said.
Plant energy usage is down 15% on a per-vehicle basis, according to Chrysler.
The automaker is looking at ways to save on freight costs by teaming up with retail companies running empty trucks in directions that Chrysler needs deliveries and vice versa. "We've been talking to people who have routes parallel to ours that are going one place to another in the opposite direction full and coming back empty. We're looking at opportunities to fill that and go the other way," he said.
Moving from a workweek of five, eight-hour days would help the automaker save money in obvious ways -- and in ways unique to a complicated manufacturing facility. For example, an assembly plant's large paint ovens can't be totally turned off during a normal five-day workweek.
"But you go to ... a three-day weekend, you can take it down cold, turn it right off. There's no problem. That saves a lot of natural gas, a lot of electricity," Ewasyshyn said.
Ewasyshyn said the automaker is talking with the UAW about going to a four-day workweek and couldn't provide a timeframe for possible rollout.
He also couldn't immediately provide a savings estimate but added it wouldn't affect workers' pay.
"It's the same 40 hours, nothing changes," he said.
Ewasyshyn said the automaker is looking at all of the plants that are "running straight-time, that are working five-days, two eight-hour shifts."
According to Chrysler spokesman Ed Saenz, possible locations to see a four-day schedule include: Conner Avenue Assembly, Newark Assembly, Jefferson North Assembly, Toledo North Assembly, Toledo Supplier Park, Trenton Engine, Kenosha Engine, Mack Avenue Engine, the Indiana Transmission Plants, Detroit Axle and Toledo Machining.
"The expectation is that most employees would jump at that," Saenz said. |
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lhwusa
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:57 am Post subject: |
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http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/AUTO01/808120364/1148/AUTO01
Saenz said the automaker's effort to shorten the workweek would affect most plants -- but not those producing small cars or other vehicles in high demand. He said the arrangement would not be proposed for the Belvidere, Ill., and Sterling Heights assembly plants.
The Dodge Caliber compact and two small SUVs, the Jeep Patriot and Compass, are produced at the Belvidere plant. The Sterling Heights plant turns out the Chrysler Sebring sedan and convertible and the Dodge Avenger, all midsize sedans. |
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BrianLaws
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Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 1418
Location: Local 1268 BAP Grp 9 Team 5
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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Chickenman
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Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 310
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:10 am Post subject: |
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Belv. Daily: Further information will be communicated this week to employees at locations where the four-day work week is being considered.
WTF  Why dont they just say BAP is not doing it and be done 
Communication is Key,
Chickenman |
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YourPonyDied
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Joined: 29 Oct 2007
Posts: 255
Location: Hellhole known as Johnson Controls
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Chickenman wrote: |
Belv. Daily: Further information will be communicated this week to employees at locations where the four-day work week is being considered.
WTF Why dont they just say BAP is not doing it and be done
Communication is Key,
Chickenman |
With supposed inventory levels, the may option this\stop overtime\etc |
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Chickenman
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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Your Pony Died Wrote:
With supposed inventory levels, the may option this\stop overtime\etc
Whaaat  |
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YourPonyDied
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Joined: 29 Oct 2007
Posts: 255
Location: Hellhole known as Johnson Controls
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Chickenman wrote: |
Your Pony Died Wrote:
With supposed inventory levels, the may option this\stop overtime\etc
Whaaat |
As i had posted in the 1268 thread
According to our plant meeting, inventory levels for compass are over 100 days, caliber 70 something and patriot 80 something. Isnt chryslers standard operating procedure around 60 days inventory? |
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BrianLaws
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Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 1418
Location: Local 1268 BAP Grp 9 Team 5
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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If the levels you speak of are correct, it would explain our 3 Saturdays a month and 9 hour schedule.
As for the 10 hours work week, I hope the article above is corrected and we do not have to do it. |
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