Local Perspectives On Right-to-Work Bill in Trenton, Grosse Ile

Right-to-Work has seen support and opposition in Trenton and Grosse Ile. Find out what the president of the Trenton teachers union, a state representative and a local United Auto Workers union president said about the bill.

Following Gov. Rick Snyder's call to action Thursday, the Michigan Legislature passed a right-to-work bill amid throngs of protesters on the Capitol lawn. The bill could be on Snyder’s desk as soon as next week. The bill prohibits unions from collecting fees from nonunion workers, which opponents say would weaken organized labor’s ability to bargain for good wages while supporters say it would boost jobs. In a Pure Michigan video posted Thursday on YouTube, Snyder says his decision to pursue such legislation is "about being pro-work and giving workers the freedom to choose who they associate with." Although this legislation would cover both the public and private sectors, there would be an exception for police and firefighters. Find out …

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Local Union President: 'Right-To-Work is an Assault On the Middle Class'

Gabe Solano, president of the United Auto Workers Local 372 in Trenton, said right-to-work legislation is an assault on workers and an assault on the middle class.

Each day union employees at the Chrysler LLC Trenton Engine Plant take a break from the daily grind to shop and eat near the plant at Fort Street and Van Horn Road. In the process of grabbing lunch or filling up the tank, these employees contribute to the local economy, but Gabe Solano said this could soon be a thing of the past. Solano, president of the United Auto Workers Local 372 in Trenton, said, if passed, "right-to-work" legislation could have a negative impact on the local economy, including local restaurants. "Chrysler workers have been good for this community and this community has been good for Chrysler workers," Solano said. "Right-to-work" legislation was introduced in the state Capitol today by Gov. Rick Snyder in Lansing, …

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Does Good News for Chrysler Mean Good News for Trenton?

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Chrysler, the biggest employer in Trenton, has received two items of good news in the past two days. Most recently, Chrysler announced a profit of $212 in the third quarter, the automaker’s second quarterly profit since undergoing bankruptcy in 2009, according to the Detroit Free Press. That follows news that the UAW had ratified a contract with Chrysler that will ensure jobs in the U.S., including at the Trenton Engine Plant, the Detroit News reported. However, a majority of workers in Trenton voted against the deal, according to the Free Press. What does this mean for Trenton? Trenton Mayor Gerry Brown said earlier this month that the deal between the UAW and Chrysler would make the auto company the biggest source of tax revenue for the …

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Nate Stemen

3:13 pm on Thursday, October 27, 2011

What do you think of Chrysler’s recent good news? And do you think the contract is a good deal for the workers?   more ›

News Brief: UAW Local 372 to Vote On Chrysler Agreement

The local chapter of the United Auto Workers is scheduled to vote today.

Members of the United Auto Workers Local 372 of Trenton are scheduled to vote today from 6 a.m. 6 p.m. at the Local 372 office, 4571 Division Street. The local UAW workers are asked to ratify an agreement with Chrysler that could mean more tax dollars for the city of Trenton. The vote is one day only and employees are asked to bring their Chrysler identification.

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Nate Stemen

2:35 pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011

Do you think this will end negotiations between the UAW and Chrysler?   more ›

Trenton's City Budget Dependent Upon Chrysler, UAW Agreement

Chrysler generates about $4 million annually in tax revenue for the city of Trenton.

Trenton doesn't have health care benefits or signing bonuses at stake in the tentative deal between Chrysler and the United Auto Workers (UAW). But the city's livelihood is at stake. The Chrysler LLC Trenton Engine Plant makes up about 25 percent of Trenton's total annual tax revenue, which works out to about $4 million each year, according to Trenton Mayor Gerald Brown. "Our dependency on Chrysler is huge," Brown said. "The new agreement would make them the highest tax revenue source, by far." Before the Trenton North Engine Plant closed in 2011 the amount of annual tax revenue was higher, and Brown said the new agreement could get the city out of a financial hole it fell into when Chrysler closed the plant. Brown said Chrysler closed the…

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UAW, Chrysler Reach Deal

Tentative agreement would mean more jobs, more investment in Chrysler plants.