C&A, UAW form neutrality agreement
Collins & Aikman Corp. has joined with a half-dozen other automotive suppliers in taking a neutral stance toward union membership at its plants.
C&A Chief Executive Officer and Chairman David Stockman joined with United Auto Workers President Ron Gettlefinger and other union officers Oct. 15 to announce the neutrality agreement between the Troy-based company and the Detroit-based union.
Through the pact, the firm agrees to take no moves against the union organizing drives in its plants, while the UAW agrees to respect workers' decisions not to join a union.
``We are extremely optimistic that this partnership with the UAW will assist us in both maintaining our current business and in achieving new business with our domestic [original equipment manufacturer] customers, which would be beneficial to Collins & Aikman, its employees and the UAW,'' Stockman said in a news release.
Nearly 60 percent of C&A's employees already are union members, with UAW representation at plastics processing plants in Michigan, Indiana and Oklahoma.
Lear Corp., Johnson Controls Inc., Dana Corp. and other suppliers have signed similar agreements as part of a growing move to allow the union greater access beyond the automakers' doors.
Silgan to reduce VOC emissions, pay fine
STAMFORD, CONN. - Metal and plastic container manufacturer Silgan Holdings Inc. agreed Oct. 16 to pay fines and fix violations of federal air-quality laws at six of its factories in California.
The Environmental Protection Agency said the Stamford-based company will pay a $659,000 fine for violations of the Clean Air Act, and reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds by up to 118 tons a year, at a cost to the company of $1.57 million. VOCs contribute to smog.
Silgan officials could not be reached.
EPA's regional office in San Francisco said Silgan installed new equipment or modified existing equipment without getting proper permits.
The EPA statement said the violations came to light from an internal audit the company began in 1998, looking at whether 38 of its plants in the United States were meeting both the Clean Air Act and legislation known as New Source Review. The company reported the findings to EPA.
The company will reduce emissions by converting from solvent- to water-based coatings, capturing more pollutants and converting one production line from solvent-based coatings to powder coatings, the EPA said.
The settlement covers three Modesto facilities as well as plants in the San Joaquin Valley, Stockton, Kingsburg and Riverbank. EPA said the San Joaquin Valley is the second-smoggiest region in the country, after Los Angeles.
WizKids puts baseball in SportsClix lineup
BELLEVUE, WASH. - The Chicago Cubs might finally win the World Series next year, thanks to the WizKids LLC gaming firm.
Bellevue-based WizKids announced Oct. 16 that it will have MLB SportsClix in stores in time for spring training 2004. The game will feature 2-inch-high, injection molded plastic figures based on major league baseball players.
Starter sets, containing nine figures, a stadium play mat, dice and rules, will retail for $19.99. Two-figure booster sets will cost $4.99, while three-figure boosters will carry a $6.99 price tag.
As with WizKids' other games - including those based on superheroes from DC Comics and Marvel Comics - the results in MLB SportsClix will be decided by dice rolls and scores contained on plastic bases underneath the figures.
WizKids, which was bought in June by sports-card maker Topps Co. Inc., has not released a complete list of players that will be available in its inaugural MLB SportsClix lineup. But the Oct. 16 release mentioned Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez and Cubs pitcher Mark Prior, whose recent loss in the National League playoffs prevented the team from reaching the World Series. The Cubs haven't played in the World Series since 1945.
WizKids sculpts its figures at sites in Bellevue and Cincinnati before shipping the molds to Asia, where the figures are produced. The business posted sales of $90 million in 2002.
