Business

Boeing’s Next Big Problem Could Be A Strike By 32,000 Workers

Published

4 months ago

2024-09-02

Kiara Grace

Boeing has faced a slew of negative news over the last six years, with nearly nothing but issues. Later this month, it may add a strike by 32,000 workers to its list of difficulties.

The contract between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists expires at 11:59 p.m. PT on September 12. Without a new contract, the workers who construct Boeing’s jets in Washington state are poised to launch the company’s first strike in 16 years. According to the chairman of the local union, the odds of reaching an agreement are slim right now.

“We’re far apart on all the main issues – wages, health care, retirement, time off,” Jon Holden, president of IAM District 751, told CNN last week. “We continue to work through that, but it’s been a tough slog to get through.”

Boeing’s Next Big Problem Could Be A Strike By 32,000 Workers

It’s just the latest in a string of serious and high-profile issues at a company that has dealt with fatal crashes blamed on a design flaw in its best-selling jet, accusations that it prioritized profits and production speed over quality and safety, plummeting aircraft sales, an agreement to plead guilty to criminal charges of deceiving regulators, and massive financial losses covered by soaring debt levels.

Both sides claim they want to reach an agreement without a strike. However, rank-and-file union members’ outrage at recent contract concessions and challenges at the once-proud company may make achieving that agreement in the short term challenging.

“We continue to bargain in good faith as we focus on the topics that are important to our employees and their families,” according to Boeing’s statement. “We’re confident we can reach a deal that balances the needs of our employees and the business realities we face as a company.”

However, Holden stated that any contract that would gain the approval of the rank-and-file must recoup some of the concessions the union gave up in two previous accords since 2008.

Both of these discussions were about contract extensions, not new deals. In both situations, the union felt compelled to agree to concessions, such as increased member payments for health insurance and the elimination of traditional pension schemes, or risk losing thousands of jobs. Boeing threatened to create nonunion plants to produce the 737 Max and 777X. Boeing, which already has a nonunion 787 Dreamliner plant in South Carolina, canceled plans for new nonunion facilities as part of those agreements.

Boeing enters these discussions with a new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, who took the job on August 8. He said that he intends to “reset our relationship” with the union after meeting with Holden and other union leaders during his first week on the job. However, Holden stated that he has noticed no differences in Boeing’s negotiating position.

In July, Ortberg’s predecessor, former CEO Dave Calhoun, likewise told investors that Boeing’s objective is to avoid a strike, implying that the company is willing to pay whatever it takes to avoid a work stoppage.

“We know the wage demands will be high,” he said. “We are not scared to treat our staff well during this process. So, we’ll just work as hard as we can to avoid a strike.”

According to the corporation, IAM members’ incomes have climbed by 60% in the last ten years due to regular wage increases, cost-of-living adjustments, and incentive compensation. However, the union remains dissatisfied with the previous compromises. It also seeks increased time off and better employment guarantees to avoid losing jobs to nonunion plants.

“We cannot go through another period where a year or two from now where our jobs are threatened,” Holden pointed out.

Several unions, including the Teamsters at UPS and the United Auto Workers at GM, Ford, and Stellantis, received double-digit salary increases in recent union agreements. However, in those cases, they were bargaining with firms making record profits and had ample resources to meet union requests.

By comparison, Boeing’s issues have resulted in $33.3 billion in core operating losses over the last five years, driving the corporation into deep debt. It is in danger of having its debt downgraded to junk bond status, but Holden argues that the union still has bargaining power in these negotiations.

Despite its issues, Boeing remains a huge power in the US economy, and shutting it down will have far-reaching consequences. Beyond the 32,000 union members among the almost 150,000 US employees, the corporation calculates its economic impact at $79 billion, supporting 1.6 million direct and indirect jobs at more than 9,900 suppliers in all 50 states.

Boeing’s Next Big Problem Could Be A Strike By 32,000 Workers

However, more critically, Boeing is one of just two main providers of commercial aeroplanes to the airline sector. The industry is already coping with Boeing’s delayed deliveries, which cannot be resumed until the company addresses concerns about the safety and quality of its aircraft.

“They haven’t said they can’t afford our proposals,” he told me. “They’re reasonable. We’re in a difficult situation due to their actions to continue boosting dividends and share repurchases while reducing R&D. They have been unable to launch a new airplane. We are in this position as a result of such judgments and crashes.

One of the union’s negotiation objectives is to have a union representative on the Boeing board of directors, which has been heavily criticized for the company’s numerous issues.

“The board certainly deserves to be criticized,” Holden added. “We do not want to run the company. However, we want to ensure that our perspectives are heard regarding the decisions. We adore the Boeing Company. The board members don’t. They compromised its integrity.

SOURCE | AP

Business

Chinese Automaker BYD Slams Reports That Factory Conditions Are Poor In Brazil

Published

6 hours ago

2024-12-26

Salman Ahmad

(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

(VOR News) – BYD, the Chinese manufacturer, has released a statement addressing concerns concerning adverse conditions at a construction site in Brazil where the business is building a facility.

The assertion claims that the accusations aim to “discredit” China and its enterprises. At the week’s outset, a task force led by Brazilian prosecutors declared the rescue of 163 Chinese people subjected to conditions akin to slavery at the location.

The Labor Prosecutor’s Office recorded a video of the workers’ dormitories, which displayed beds lacking mattresses and rudimentary kitchen facilities.

BYD spokeswoman Li Yunfei strongly opposed the issue on Weibo.

The statement additionally condemned the media’s portrayal of the incident. “The statement indicated that foreign entities are intentionally maligning Chinese brands, disparaging China, and seeking to jeopardize the relationship between China and Brazil.”

BYD, an acronym for “Build Your Dreams,” is a prominent maker of electric automobiles globally. On Monday evening, the corporation declared its intention to “immediately terminate the contract” with the Jinjiang Group, the contractor responsible for the factory’s construction, and stated that it was “evaluating other suitable measures…”

BYD announced that the employees at Jinjiang will be accommodated in nearby hotels temporarily and that they will not suffer negative consequences from the decision to halt operations at their workplace.

The corporation announced that it had been altering the working conditions at the construction site in recent weeks and had notified its contractors that “adjustments” were necessary.

Li’s tweet on Weibo included what it said to be a “declaration” from the Chinese workers at the site. The tweet included a video depicting individuals seated together in a room. The men’s thumbprints were crimson.

The video depicted a worker articulating a statement asserting that allegations of impoverished and “slave-like” conditions violated their human rights and that these difficulties stemmed from misunderstandings.

BYD should continue our employment here.”

Upon completing his work, the employees applauded. Prosecutors asserted that the sanitation conditions at BYD’s site were notably inadequate. There was one toilet for every 31 workers, necessitating their rise at four in the morning to line up and be prepared for work by five thirty.

Brazilian law defines conditions akin to slavery as defined by the worker’s subjugation to coerced labor or excessive working hours, acceptance of deplorable working conditions, and limitations on the worker’s freedom of movement.

Brazilian officials reported that Jinjiang Construction Brazil confiscated the workers’ passports and retained sixty percent of their wages, in addition to the substandard living conditions imposed on the workers.

The labor office’s statement indicates that employees who resign must reimburse the corporation for their travel expenses to China and return ticket costs.

The employees’ statement indicates that the passports were taken to enable the corporation to file work permits and other procedures that the employees could not accomplish independently due to language barriers.

Jinjiang Construction Brazil has reported that it is undergoing “frequent and intensive inspections by the BYD local labor department in Brazil.”

The labor department’s disclosed information was characterized as false, particularly the claims that the Jinjiang laborers were ‘enslaved’ and ‘rescued,’ which are entirely contradictory to the facts. This arose from cultural disparities, BYD translation difficulties, and comprehension difficulties regarding the content.

A declaration was issued asserting that the staff were enthusiastic about engaging with the media on the topic.

In numerous regions of the developing globe, the living conditions of migrant construction workers might be exceedingly inadequate. Moreover, such labor occasionally entails contracts that compel workers to reimburse BYD substantial sums of money expended to secure their positions, despite legal prohibitions against such agreements.

SOURCE: AP

Business

Walmart Charged With Unlawfully Establishing Bank Accounts for 1 Million Drivers

Published

2 days ago

2024-12-24

Salman Ahmad

Photo: Reuters

(VOR News) – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a lawsuit against Walmart and a fintech company called Branch Messenger, alleging that the two companies forced more than a million delivery workers to use costly bank accounts to receive their paychecks. Both of these companies were the targets of the lawsuit.

According to the action filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Walmart and Branch are accused of opening deposit accounts for Walmart’s Spark Drivers, who are considered independent contractors, without first getting their consent.

These bank accounts contained drivers’ personal data, including their Social Security numbers.

The lawsuit specifically claims that Walmart’s drivers, who are in charge of delivering goods from the company’s warehouses to consumers, are only allowed to have their earnings transferred into these branch accounts.

This goes against the company’s rules, which permit them to move their earnings to different accounts.

Walmart reportedly told employees in 2021 that using these accounts may lead to firing.

Additionally, the lawsuit claimed that accessing profits through the accounts was a “complex process,” typically causing weeks-long delays. Among the other accusations that were made was this one.

This was the predicament they ultimately found themselves in, even though the business had assured them that they would have prompt access to funds.

To make matters worse, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), drivers allegedly paid ten million dollars in “junk fees” to move their earnings to different bank accounts.

Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Rohit Chopra, said, “Companies cannot force workers into getting paid through accounts that drain their earnings with junk fees,” in his criticism of the practice. “Junk fees are a waste of money.”

This case’s next section outlined the traits of the average Spark Driver: “in addition to being a woman, having children, not having a college degree, and having a low income.”

Walmart denied the accusations made by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and stated in a statement that it will firmly defend itself in court.

Walmart released a statement claiming that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) hurried lawsuit is full of factual errors, exaggerations, and blatant misrepresentations of basic legal principles.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) never gave Walmart a chance to make its case in an unbiased way throughout its rushed probe. In contrast to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, we are ready to fiercely defend the Company before a court that respects the due process of law principle.

Additionally, Branch was charged by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) with engaging in deceptive advertising and neglecting to look into and address issues pertaining to the accounts. In addition to earlier accusations, these were also made.

In contrast, Branch denied the accusations and defended its services, saying, “The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rushed to file a lawsuit despite the company’s extensive cooperation with its investigation, refusing to engage with Branch in any meaningful way about this matter.”

Branch responded to the Walmart accusations with a statement.

Furthermore, Branch claimed that the case was motivated more by a desire for “media attention” than by concerns for the welfare of the employees. This is what he stated in his statement.

This case, which is part of a larger campaign to give these gig workers more rights, targets these individuals who work for firms like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash who are supposed to be independent contractors. It is considered that gig workers are independent contractors.

Earlier this month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) made claims against large financial firms, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase.

According to the CFPB, these organizations did not stop fraud on the money-sending app Zelle, which is a platform that lets people send and receive money.

The choice of a new director may have an impact on the outcome of this lawsuit because President-elect Donald Trump is expected to choose a replacement for the present director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

When Jaret Seiberg was employed as a financial services policy analyst at TD Cowen Washington Research Group, she noted that the new director’s strategy for handling such matters would be the deciding element in the case’s future course.

SOURCE: TN

Business

Naked Wines Issues 2024 Performance Review

Published

3 days ago

2024-12-24

Geoff Brown

Naked Wines claims to be in 'better position' despite falling sales

Naked Wines, an online retailer, has issued a performance review after announcing that sales declined 15% in the first half of the year to $112.3 million, despite management insisting it is in “a better position, both financially and strategically”.

Rodrigo Maza, who became CEO in February after joining the company as UK managing director in September 2023, stated that the company was in a better financial and strategic position, with “robust financial foundations” and committed and engaged members.

“Our strategic initiatives centred around customer acquisition and retention are generating learnings, and we are currently experiencing solid trading during the peak season period,” he told shareholders.

It also stated that a performance review is under underway in order to “proactively evaluate options to maximise shareholder value”. The end of the fiscal year will see the release of a report.

Naked Wines New CEO

He also welcomed new CFO Dominic Neary, who joined Naked Wines from Mind Gym in November, saying he was excited to collaborate with him “as we focus the business on cash, profitability, and growth with its rose wine and dry white wine.”A performance review is presently ongoing to “proactively evaluate options to maximise shareholder value,” according to the results, with a report expected to be released at the end of the fiscal year.

It also stated that it has continued to liquidate surplus inventory, with the UK and Australia returning to normal inventory levels, however US inventories remained “significantly” in excess, albeit being down $20.5 million from HY24.

It stated that it was “currently investigating options to reduce inventory levels more quickly,” which would help drive improved cash over the next two fiscal years, but “could lead to increased liquidation costs and result in EBIT at the lower end of guidance.”

Although active members (those with Angel or Wine Genie membership) declined 12% in the last 12 months, the statement noted retention of its ‘core’ members (those who had been customers for two years or more) was up two percentage points to 79%, and they remained “highly engaged”.

Customers’ total probability to refer the company to a friend (net promoter score) increased from 73 to 76 in the previous quarter, according to the report.

Turning Things Around

In August, the company reported a pre-tax loss of $16.3 million for the fiscal year ending 1 April 2024, up from $15 million in the fiscal year 2022/2023, with revenues down 18% to $290 million and repeat business down a quarter to $65 million.

Founder Rowan Gormley, on the other hand, asserted that the company was “making real progress in turning things around with its rose wine and dry white wine”.

It came after the engagement of debt consultants in March 2024 to look into refinancing possibilities and a possible wine company reorganization after the value of Naked Wines shares fell by about a third in the previous year.

Gormley increased his interest in Naked Wines significantly in December 2023, purchasing $9,600 in shares.

This was Gormley’s second round of stock purchases; he and other senior board members purchased a large number of shares in early November following a drop in share value after the firm stated it was lowering its full-year sales estimates to -12% to -16%.

Three of the company’s leaders at the time put a total of $94,000 in its stock.