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Tribune favors “right to work” zone for Mistubishi plant

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Illinois

* The Tribune finally comes out in favor of a specific Bruce Rauner proposal, except Rauner himself dumped that idea months ago…

Here’s an option: Entice a foreign automaker to Illinois by making it possible to operate the Normal factory in a local right-to-work zone. Yes, this is the idea that has been pitched by Gov. Bruce Rauner and shunned by Democratic leaders.

Ideology, meet practice: Do those leaders want to secure an empty plant for years to come?

Right-to-work status doesn’t bar union organizing, it does say that workers are not compelled to join or pay dues to a union. Foreign automakers have made it clear that right-to-work status is required for them to make an investment.

Here’s an opportunity. By wooing a foreign nameplate, the state could save the plant and its 1,200 jobs and send a dramatic message that Illinois is open for business.

The global economy knocks down borders, intensifies competition and creates all kinds of surprising bedfellows. Mitsubishi once joined Chrysler in Normal. Let’s do everything possible to get someone to follow in their tire tracks.

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:18 am

Comments

Tribsters:

So it’s been illegal to work at this plant because people do NOT have the Right to Work there?

Is this mysterious “Right to Work” similar to when 18 Year Olds were given the Right to Vote? Giving the individual a Right that previously did not exist….

Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:23 am
I have always found it interesting that the American approach to luring foreign investment is to be anti-Union while the same companies generally operate factories with coordination with labor in the nation from which they’re based.

If we were more like those countries with universal healthcare either provided by a single payer or universal provider, or we had college level education that was next to free, or significantly higher minimum wages, or a much higher level of support in the social safety net, maybe we wouldn’t need to unionize?

Yet, we look at those companies and suggest that what they’re looking for is a labor force and community to exploit rather than to be a part of.

Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:24 am
Hey, gang, let’s put on a show. My mom will sew the costumes and we can hold it in my uncle’s barn…

I’m sure the stakeholders in Bloomington are putting real thought and effort into the issue. I imagine the shallow musings of Johnny-come-lately ideologues will be given all the consideration they deserve.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:27 am
We have to accept that if we try to compete with Mexico for jobs based on salary, we are destined to lose. There is no point to the competition.

Low salaries will not convince employers to move to Illinois.

Instead, we need to focus on area where we can win, such as an educated work force and high quality infrastructure.

We need to keep our eye on the ball.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:29 am
Does the Trib editorial surprise? No. To think that the plant will become attractive to a foreign automaker simply because it’s union free is delusional. Of course delusional is what we’ve frequently seen out of the Trib lately.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:29 am
Or did Rauner dump the idea? Why is the Tribune keeping a fire going under this? I heard there is interest in buying the factory from a currently non-Union manufacturing company who has in the past made parts for Caterpillar

Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:31 am
“The global economy knocks down borders, intensifies competition and creates all kinds of surprising bedfellows.”

It also knocks down wages of blue collar American workers.

Comment by Phil Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:32 am
DSM wasn’t destroyed by unions or labor, and there’s nothing they could’ve done to counteract stagnant, uncompetitive products. Right to work isn’t the solution, but it is a wonderful way to saddle unions with the costs associated with representation, while denying them the revenue to support those costs, all while pretending it’s about freedom. All that’s required to financially decimate the union is for individuals to do what is rational behavior as an individual, which is to accept the benefits and contribute nothing to the costs. It’s a clever way to use a quirk of human nature of achieve a political end, while pretending that the individuals involved choose to free themselves from the yoke of the “oppressive” union.

I’d be courting Volkswagen instead, and offer them an environment free of micromanagement by a state legislature, and allow them to establish the works council they wanted to establish in Tennessee.

Comment by AC Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:34 am
If I remember correctly, Mitsubishi went out of their way to say it wasn’t the union’s fault, and they were going to work with the UAW to find a buyer.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:36 am
@EditBoardChick - why did we come out for RTW zones now? Simple. New pay period started Saturday. #EarningOurKeep

To the Post,

Makes all the sense to me… except it was the product’s failure to be sold, overseas, that was the mitigating factor to the plant’s closure, not employee wages.

Other than that…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:36 am
Don’t you just love it when America gets blackmailed by a foreign power or government, makes OPEC look like a piker.

Comment by the old man Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:37 am
When trying to market a unique asset one needs to be open to consider all options. Making certain things non-negotional before any offers seems to tie the hands of those marketing the property.

It is unlikely that the plant would ever return to making automobiles since there is too much worldwide production capacity. A potential would be for a niche producer like Tesla who will need capacity to build future products to swoop in and pay pennies on the dollar.

Keep an open mind for proposed reuse or repurposing of the property or else it may become a movie set for a disaster movie.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:38 am
Does anyone else have any better ideas? Hundreds of millions in tax incentives don’t seem to work anymore. Why not try local Right to Work in this instance? If it works, we have jobs + tax revenue. If it doesn’t, then the concept has more weight against it. Doing nothing = continued death spiral.

Comment by Seppa Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:39 am
“Foreign automakers have made it clear that right-to-work status is required for them to make an investment.”
This is certainly not generally true: VW, for example, is very strongly pro-union. (There was a case in the South a few years ago, where VW was wary about expanding a plant because of the anti-union policies of the state government.) Is it true for any foreign automakers? Anyone have any actual facts or evidence here?

Comment by UIC Guy Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:41 am
NY Times had an article this weekend about Chinese (textile) manufacturers coming to South Carolina because wages and other costs are too high in China these days, and South Carolina gave tens of millions in tax credits and other incentives. On the one hand, it is good news that globalization has increased wages in developing countries to the extent that manufacturing in the United States is starting to make economic sense again. On the other hand, workers in South Carolina are not making a wage big enough to live on without depending heavily on the government, which does not have the funds to help because it is giving its money away to corporations to attract these crappy jobs. It’s not a sustainable model.

Comment by chi Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:42 am
=Doing nothing = continued death spiral.=

I’d argue that the Right to Work zone is the start of the death spiral.

Comment by chi Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:44 am
As far as I can tell, local right to work zones are almost certainly illegal under federal law. (”States or territories” can be right-to-work, and making localities RTW depends on reading counties or localities as “territories,” which, good luck with that.)

As with any legal challenge, people are welcome to give it a shot, but I expect about the same level of success as the pension bills.

Comment by whetstone Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:45 am
==Foreign automakers have made it clear that right-to-work status is required for them to make an investment.==

Wrong. Volkswagen makes no such demands. In fact, they champion workers committees and unionization.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-19/volkswagen-s-sort-of-union-in-tennessee

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:49 am
@chi:

I agree. For every buck I send in Federal Tax Dollars….South Carolinians get a few bucks in Entitlements! I guess when you sign up for benefits you get to choose your ReaganPhone ( he signed that into law), the PPACA, Food Stamps, Section 8 Voucher.

Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:51 am
Henry Ford recognized that the people who made his cars—and his fortune—should be able to buy them on the wages he paid them.

Comment by Glenn Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:52 am
No effen way…heading down a slippery slope

Figures Rauners first attempt at this would be downstate way from Union heavy Chicago workforce/leadership…

Ain’t gonna happen…

Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:54 am
Great idea, lets also give them the plant for free, guarantee profits by subsidizing the company, forgo minimum wage and child labor laws, and let them dump any toxic by products of their manufacturing in the aquifer. Boy I hope we can get some one to open that plant.

Comment by Obamas Puppy Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 9:56 am
How about this wacky idea?
1) Make that one plant an RTW zone for the one specific owner for a specific period of time.
2) For each employee that would have been a union member, pay (with tax money) the union to make up the difference.

So then we’d find out just what kind of benefit RTW would have without busting all the unions. If it’s as wonderful as its proponents claim (which I personally doubt, but that’s beside the point), then we’ll more than make up for the cost with jobs and additional revenue. And if it fails, then we’ll know the answer.

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:03 am
-Glenn-
Henry Ford was also one of the biggest union-busters in history. Ford was the last of the Detroit automakers to unionize. Though, even when Ford was the only non-union shop, they had the highest paid workers and the highest productivity. And he also had probably the biggest role in making the 5 day work week a reality. And their factories were hiring minorities at higher levels. All done without union representation for his employees.

Comment by mcb Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:07 am
Skeptic- union members are rational actors, and they would quickly realize that they could get the state to subsidize their entire dues structure.

Comment by chi Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:13 am
Cheaper than what Governor Thompson laid out.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:13 am
How about insisting the Federal Government give us back more $0.25 of ever dollar we pay in Federal taxes. As a taxpayer, I am tired of subsidizing these primarily southern red states so that they in turn subsidize manufacturers to locate or relocate to their state; thus making it necessary for Illinois to agree to Catapillers every demand for tax relief. The federal government is forcing Illinois to cut its own throat.

Comment by Triple fat Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:18 am
Ford has indicated it’s planning to move small car production from a plant in Michigan to Mexico. Michigan is now a right to work state. Why would a plant move to a right to work zone in Illinois? To please the Tribune editors?

Comment by Truthteller Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:18 am
What Gooner said. We have to focus on education and infrastructure. We should also work to expand unionization, which goes hand-in-hand with better middle class pay.

As far as Volkswagen, in Tennessee the plant could be on the brink of unionizing. It’s very embarrassing to the labor side of German “works councils” that the Chattanooga plant is one of the only–if not the only–VW plant in the world without a works council.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:19 am
the problem is mosy right to work areas are just to provide exorbitantbpay to a few execs. How about this compromise. A company can operate in a right to work framework so long as the highest paid person receives no more then 10 times the compensation of the lowest paid person in the right to work zone. Compensation includes stick options, stock awards, bonuses, and executive perks such as company houses, cars, planes and memberships.

Most of these needs for cheap labor are just to transfer wealth to a couple people and are not really about viability.

take apple, 74billion cash reserves. They do not need to pay poverty wages to keep the company afloat….

Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:19 am
mcb

My grandfather worked at the Torrence Ave plant for year (until he died) and was there during the $5 day, days…

What the history books don’t mention.

Sometimes they would have to work half days for free.
The best one was when grandpa’s supervisor stopped by to sell some pots and pans and basically said if you don’t buy stuff from me, you lose your job.

There are more stories to this, but the line workers at Ford went to a union because of the way they were treated by Ford, not because everyone else had done it.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:20 am
The company denies the plant closing has anything to do with labor costs. The Trib is promoting a solution that is in search of a problem.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2015/07/28/mitsubishi-union-will-search-for-plant-buyer.html

From the article: “We greatly value the work of all of our employees in Normal and want to stress that our motivation to exit from this facility is unrelated to labor costs or our relationship with the UAW,” Hiroshi Harunari, executive vice president in charge of overseas operations for Mitsubishi, said. “Our partnership over the years has been both respectful and mutually beneficial.”

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:21 am
“I heard there is interest in buying the factory from a currently non-Union manufacturing company who has in the past made parts for Caterpillar.”
————–

Interest, yes. But there are issues, and dealing with the potential union aspect of things for a currently non-union employer isn’t something to take lightly.

Also, there’s the issue of all the ’satellite’ vendors and supplies who built up in the area surrounding the plant. This is (was) Mitsubishi’s only assembly plant in the US, so those suppliers are now scrambling, and there’s no guarantee they will stay.

So far the ideas seem to be:
1) The Trib’s ‘local right to work’ zones.
2) Hope Mitsubishi & the UAW can pull a rabbit out of the hat.
3) Find some other large scale manufacturer who wants to buy a used auto assembly facility with relatively low mileage.
4) Big, vacant, empty facility.

Here’s a crazy idea:

After all the above options fail, pick up the plant for pennies on the dollar.

1) Have ISU, Heartland Community College, and IWU enter into a consortium agreement. Put them in charge of the facility.
2) Turn the entire facility into a technology/manufacturing incubator for small business.
3) Break the facility up into small units (that will be a lot of small units).
4) Fund their utilities (power, water, heating, etc.).
5) Eliminate all permit / inspection fees and costs (I mean all of them). Let it become a ‘fee free’ zone. You can still inspect & permit, just can’t charge anything.
6) No retail (two exceptions). That’s not what this facility is for.
7) Agriculture is an option. That includes a ‘Farmers Market’ type(s) of operation.
8) Sales by non-retail vendors located in the facility are acceptable. Manufacturer/tech supplier sales welcome.

I’m sure there’s a few other rules that will have to be added, but it’s a start. But it’s all KISS principle.

When all the usual suspects (the old ‘tried and true’ approaches) fail miserably, do something creative and innovative.

…or not.

We’re not looking for elegance. We’re trying to re-start a moribund State business climate. Got to start someplace.

Comment by Judgment Day Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:25 am
-mcb-

Undoubtably true.

Unions also worked against the minimum wage for fear they would become irrelevant.

If union busters like Ford were not the exception, unions wouldn’t have any reason to exist.

Unfortunately, we live in a world far removed from such enlightened self-interest, so the best to be expected is far from the best that might be.

Comment by Glenn Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:27 am
why not try it? We really have little to lose.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:30 am
If your right to work without joining the union means you have to negotiate your own pay, benefits, and other contractual rights, right to work would be fine.

Comment by Anon. Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:35 am
-Glenn-
I would agree that Ford was the exception, was just trying to note the irony of pro-union folks quoting Ford…
We could certainly use more Henry Fords (minus the whole potential anti-semitic part).

Comment by mcb Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:36 am
The Tribune has always advocated policy againsts the interests of American workers. George Pullman is alive and well at Tribune Tower. Hopefully, it dies in a bankrupty that gives its investors and editorial writers a huge bath.

Comment by Real American Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:37 am
Cheap money did them in. They expanded by carrying 0 interest and selling to fleets dumping their cars onto the market. Tempting but not a good long term strategy.

There is an over capacity in the auto industry from cheap interest and government cash.

It is called deleveraging and it will continue.

Comment by Liberty Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:46 am
How about workers in a Right to Work Zone also having a Right to Health Insurance paid by the state. It works in Germany.

Foreign auto manufacturers don’t have to put the cost of worker’s health insurance, somewhere in the thousands of dollars per car, into the consumer’s price.

Of course, that would put a hit on insurance company profits, since comparable state supplied health insurance costs roughly half as much as the for-profit, anti-social product.

Comment by Glenn Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:46 am
Time to throw out another crazy idea (as part of the above):

If you know anything about the facility in questio0ns, it’s really large, has easy access to both I-74 (heading west to Peoria) and both I-55 and I-39. It’s also a relatively modern (say 35+/- years old) manufacturing facility with plenty of parking/adjacent storage. High ceilings, manufacturing grade power, etc.

ISU has there main science building (Felmley Hall and the Felmley annex) which is really old. It has lots of asbestos and isn’t really functional for what it’s having to be used for. It’s best feature is it’s located right in the middle of the campus. But it’s really limited.

It needs to be replaced, but where are you going to find the money - particularly these days.

We got something that could potentially work for us here. Is it a perfect solution - NO. But it’s a potentially workable solution. And in the middle of a budding tech/manufacturing incubator? Oh yeah - that works.

And don’t forget, there’s retail that has sprung up around this facility. There’s motels/hotels, food establishments, a conference center (well, sorta), and retail like a Walmart Superstore open 24/7.

You folks are all arguing about ideology. What are your solutions?????

Comment by Judgment Day Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:02 am
==- OneMan - Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 10:20 am:==

And Ford’s hiring of black workers was not an act of anti-racism, but simply a wedge against competitors. They were prevented from rising in rank and held to lower wages.

–

How about a RTW zone for the Tribune editorial board?

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:03 am
===How about a RTW zone for the Tribune editorial board===

They have a RTW zone, it’s called Freedom Center, 777 W. Chicago.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:06 am
chi @ 10:13 Ok, and the difference between subsidizing the union and subsidizing the company is…? If what’s keeping the companies from moving jobs here *is* RTW (or lack thereof) then why not?

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:09 am
First, we took your tax dollars and threw them at manufacturers to locate here.
Now, we’re just going to make sure you get paid less to get manufacturers to locate here.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:12 am
= Makes all the sense to me… except it was the product’s failure to be sold, overseas, that was the mitigating factor to the plant’s closure, not employee wages. =

DING DING DING! We have a winner.

The Normal plant lost the popular Galant and Eclipse, and instead earned the privilege of producing the Triton (don’t be embarrassed if you have to Google that one).

Not to mention that as gas prices became an issue the company decided it wise to try marketing small-SUVs that HAD to run on premium unleaded.

Comment by Dirty Red Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:14 am
The editors had it right. The rise of manufacturing below the Mason-Dixson line isn’t due to chance.

Comment by Keyser Soze Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:18 am
As far as I know the Japan Automobile Workers Union represents all Mitsubishi workers in Japan. There is no right to work provisions for these workers in Japan that I have ever read of. Mitsubishi went offshore in an attempt to weaken its own union at home and lower labor costs.

Mitsubishi currently makes cars in Thailand and the Philippines, and in February 2016 it will build a new factory in Indonesia for vehicles such as its Pajero Sport SUV. I don’t care what kind of labor restrictions are created for the Normal plant, the US workers will get paid more than those in Indonesia. The minimum wage in Indonesia is about $230 a month for a full time worker.

Comment by Rod Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:21 am
Here’s a nice article on auto makers moving to Mexico.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2015/04/30/mexico-luring-new-auto-plants.html

But you might notice one additional fact pointed out there, Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant has the lowest wages of any US factory. So please, let’s not keep throwing out VW as being such a strong advocate for the workers.

But back to the article, Mexico is what any potential North American auto factory is up against. RTW isn’t going to fix the massive difference in wages, free trade agreements, or lesser environmental regulations. So in other words, good luck getting any automaker there. The only companies that might take over would have to have a strong regional reason. Such as other production or suppliers nearby. This is going to be a niche deal for a specific company if anyone takes it. Everything would have to be on the table, RTW, incentives, whatever. The final mix will depend on the buyer. You need to court the business then find a way to get them here, not merely make it look better to everyone.

Comment by mcb Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:24 am
Illinois is not in a death spiral. Based on the most recent data, Illinois’ economy is expected to grow slightly faster than the average state. I’m not sure how the idea that Illinois’ economy is failing got started. Most likely, it is a residual from the Great Recession period where almost every state had a declining economy.

Comment by Pelonski Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:30 am
Keyser,
You may want to check your numbers.
The states south of the Mason Dixon line tend to have the highest unemployment in the country and the highest percentages of people on food stamps.

Is that really your goal for IL?

It is worth noting that those states also have some of the worst public schools in the country.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:31 am
If anyone is interested in actual facts, google “National Association of Manufacturers state manufacturing data.”

Since the Great Recession, the value of Illinois manufacturing output has grown by 25%, from $80 billion to $101 billion. That’s more growth than Indiana, Michigan or Wisconsin.

The fact is, Illinois remains the third largest manufacturing state in the union, behind California and Texas.

Anecdotal chicken-little spin in service of a partisan political agenda is just that.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:47 am
-Gooner-
I’m not advocating RTW, but people constantly note the economic conditions in RTW states and Southern states. Are those states in such bad shape because of things like RTW, or were they already in bad shape so they enacted things like RTW to try to turn it around?
I think it would be interesting to compare the situation in those states before and after making “business friendly” moves such as RTW.
I suspect Illinois was much better off for a long time, so we’re not starting from the same point as those other states, thus making the RTW vs nonRTW comparisons worthless.
Or maybe look at which way the states are moving. Are conditions improving in RTW states or getting worse?

Comment by mcb Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:50 am
Doing business in the U.S. means conforming to labor laws, environmental laws, wage laws, workplace safety laws, etc. Why focus on dropping just one of those?

I find it very interesting that the focus usually goes to organized labor. Why? The collective voice has political power that the would-be oligarchs do not like. Further, it seems to be relatively easy to drive a wedge between various sectors of the working class by pointing to the unionized folks and telling the rest of the workers “Those guys make too much, its not fair.”

At some point, I hope, the workers will wake up and begin to organize…

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:54 am
I’m with Anon at 10:35 am, if employees want a Union but no part of paying for services provided by the Union then let them fend for themselves.

Comment by nadia Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:55 am
Never forget it was Tribbie execs trying to get a $100 million tax break from the state….
Hey while we doing RTW in Normal we should mandate tents in those big empty lots so the workers could have free housin’?
How about the pension funds buy the plant ( price should be about 50 cents) and then see conracts to build cars and/or parts. Certainly offers a better return on investment than they are gettin’ on Wall Street.

Comment by Anonin' Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:20 pm
Gooner, I think that you changed the subject. Back on point, manufacturers are building new plants in the south. Think Boeing, BMW, Volkswagon, etc., etc. That isn’t a value judgement, it’s a fact.

Comment by Keyser Soze Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:24 pm
Keyser, the numbers do not support your claims.

From 2000 - 2010, Georgia lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs.

Is that really your version of success?

Comment by Gooner Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:31 pm
Keyster,

What about Triple Fat’s larger point that the southern states are being subsidized by Illinois tax-dollars? Illinois receive $0.50 on the dollar compared to South Carolina’s $5.40.

Something about Boeing & Other People’s Money seems to ring true.

Comment by Ipso Facto Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:39 pm
Why would we allow the Mitsubishi plant to be a right to work zone? That might actually attract a new employer to bring jobs to Illinois and decrease government dependance. Dems can’t allow that!

Comment by A realistic citizen Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:56 pm
Pelonski’
“IIllinois is not in a death sprial”???
Get real. The state is in debt to the tune of $23,000 per taxpayer, is loosing jobs and interest rates are about to go up. If that weren’t bad enough, We have a completely dysfunctional legislature, that is in deep denial of the need to cut spending.

I think that more than constitutes a death spiral!

Comment by A realistic citizen Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:03 pm
A Realistic Citizen is not very realistic.

Right to work states, especially those in the south, have the highest rates of people on food stamps.

Low wages means more government dependence.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:08 pm
Realistic citizen, the GA’s budget had cuts. It needed revenue. Gov. Rauner also wants a combination revenue and cuts, but wants his turnaround agenda passed first. That was evident when he vetoed the Democratic budget in its entirely rather than AV’ing the excess spending out.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:08 pm
Death spiral. There’s more nonsense words that need to be banned here.

Yes @Realistic citizen, bring the state back with lower paying jobs. Good plan. Not. Those of you that think right to work is some big panacea for the state’s economic woes need to lay off the hard stuff. Illinois doesn’t need right to work to make it better economically and anybody that thinks that’s the solution is a complete goof.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:10 pm
Judgement day is right. Auto manufacturing has no place in Normal. That plant suffered from bad planning from the start: its located no where near an adequate water supply for auto manufacturing. They had dried up local sources, and were looking to pipe water many miles from the Illinois River. Scrap the equipment (it probably worth more that way). Transform it into something for the future…like a manufacturing incubator or return it to agriculture. Those huge black top lots need to be dug up. Horrible environmental blight.

Comment by Gmma Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:11 pm
Gmma:

I’m sure all of those people who lost jobs are comforted by your immense concern for the environment. Can you say clueless?

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:13 pm
Just food for thought:
http://www.manufacturersnews.com/news/story/manufacturing-jobs-increase-in-illinois-chicago

“MNI data indicates that although Illinois still continues to lose jobs to its neighbors, the rate at which its manufacturers are migrating to other states seems to be slowing. This year’s survey shows a loss of 471 jobs to other states, half the average yearly loss of 1,060 jobs MNI recorded from 2009-2014.”

Comment by mcb Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:13 pm
“but no part of paying for services provided” Ah, so they want the services provided but not pay for them? That’s called “Free loading.” Ok, so maybe they don’t want the services either. Fine, when the unreasonable boss starts asking unreasonable things, then they can fend for themselves. Or find another job. Good luck.

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:38 pm
“That plant suffered from bad planning from the start: its located no where near an adequate water supply for auto manufacturing. They had dried up local sources, and were looking to pipe water many miles from the Illinois River. Scrap the equipment (it probably worth more that way).”
————-

First off, there’s sufficient clean water in the Bloomington-Normal area. You are confusing issues about water shortages back around 10 years ago where Bloomington was affected by drought status and they were obtaining backup water supplies from the Illinois River. Paid a hefty fine for that one, as I recall.

Both Bloomington and Normal made quite a number of adjustments since then to avoid those water shortage problems in the future. That’s really pretty much of a non-issue these days.

Also, you don’t scrap that type of equipment - stuff is still really useful. Besides, the equipment is all owned by Mitsubishi (or it’s lenders) and it’s their call on what to do with the equipment.

Just as a thought, as Additive Manufacturing continues growing by leaps and bounds, we could easily within the next 5-10 years start to see a potentially huge business growing in assemble-your-own vehicles from kits.

Where better to do it than in a repurposed auto assembly facility?

Just a thought…..

Comment by Judgment Day Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:44 pm
“assemble-your-own vehicles from kits.” Or maybe just 3-D print one? (yes I’m being silly)

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:47 pm
- Judgment Day -
This is the kind of spit-balling of ideas that those involved need to be doing. Not saying this is the one, but there is potential in that industry with the new rules. Somebody is going to become “the place” for that type of business. Might as well be BN.

Comment by mcb Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:50 pm
“Or maybe just 3-D print one? (yes I’m being silly)”
————

You may think you are being silly - and 4-5 years ago, that was probably valid. But these days, home/small shop CNC is big and growing. And there’s visual/Object Oriented coding tools coming out for CNC technology.

Ever heard of Arduino (https://www.arduino.cc/) or Raspberry pi (https://www.raspberrypi.org/)?

Explains why DARPA is looking at building and deploying “Machining Centers” in a shipping container for the military, or why NASA is diligently working on deploying 3-D printers (that’s “Additive Manufacturing”, btw) on future space missions.

You seem to think it’s silly. IMO, it’s the future. Maybe 5-10 years, but sure would be nice to be one of the leaders. There’s a real opportunity here.

Comment by Judgment Day Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 2:06 pm
How’s about converting it to an alternative energy manufacturing plant…if the Clean Jobs bill passes…it’s a no brainier…

Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 2:48 pm
Jeeze Louise. Pointing out that new car plants and airplane plants aren’t being built in Illinois these days seems to have taken a turn into other subjects. I don’t know diddle about pickle factories in Georgia. But, I do know that car plants and airplane plants, be they successful or otherwise, are being built in the south. Meanwhile, as we all know, one such car plant is closing in Illinois. It is easy to castigate southern states for whatever means they use in enticing new business, or for what other failings that they might have, neither of which is productive. Instead, it would be far more useful for us to figure out just how to go about repopulating the soon to be empty big box factory in Normal. Make your choice, a populated big box, or an empty big box. It’s that simple.

Comment by Keyser Soze Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:17 pm
Unfortunately the unions are becoming irrelevant to their own greed. A union will never say, “That’s enough” or will they ever not ask for more because their own membership would file an unfair labor practice suit against them. The unions will die due to their own inefficiencies just as Marxism has failed.

Comment by J. Patterson Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:17 pm
==A union will never say, “That’s enough” ==

The union at Mitsubishi did. In fact, they even agreed to wage concessions a while back. And it seems to me the state just got an agreement with the Teamsters that essentially said “that’s enough.” Shall I continue?

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:26 pm
==Meanwhile, as we all know, one such car plant is closing in Illinois.==

And the closing has absolutely nothing to do with the cockamamie discussions going on about right to work and unions and everything to do with the fact that nobody is buying their cars.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:28 pm
J Patterson,

Interesting straw man. The union greed-thing is a rather stale meme. Speaking broadly (no pun intended) what American says, “That’s enough?” Mr. Rauner’s cayman account is an interesting footnote.

As to the Marxism pot-shot, it would appear that we, as a nation, are revisiting his notion of the distorting effects of concentrated capital. The economist Heilbroner picked up and forwarded this theme as well.

The rising Gini co-efficient hardly beckons a “union problem.”

Comment by Ipso Facto Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:29 pm
Keyser,

You confuse “anecdote” with “data.”

A few stories about random plant openings do not substitute for actual data showing a loss of jobs.

The reality is that those right to work states are losing manufacturing jobs AND those states also have worse unemployment and more people on welfare.

Some random story you once read about one plant does not change the overall numbers.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:44 pm
All options should be on the table, there is no “sacred” cow anymore and quite frankly, the UAW should not object. The end goal is to get a company to come in to buy the plant and employ the workers, unionizing can come later. The Mayors of normal and Bloomington should quickly vote to adopt the right to work zone language proposed by the governor. Again, if the end goal is to save a plant, employ its workers and help the community, right to work should be on the table. We will find out in the near future just how serious the politicians and UAW are about trying to save this plant.

Comment by Charles Wilkins Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:46 pm
“How’s about converting it to an alternative energy manufacturing plant…if the Clean Jobs bill passes…it’s a no brainier…”
————

Yeah, right. Trinity Industries in Clinton, IL already builds wind towers. There’s a very limited market for solar here in IL.

And there’s a glut of overproduction for solar as it is.

And you can only use so much ‘renewables’ because it doesn’t add to baseline power supply. And people don’t seem to want to pay substantially higher prices for renewable power.

Maybe you do, but count me out.

Better plan on looking for companies in different lines of business.

Comment by Judgment Day Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 4:00 pm
Maybe they could attract Volkswagon here since they are pro-union!

Comment by Victor_beckimyer Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 4:35 pm
The Tribune does not mention that four years ago Illinois offered $30 million in tax incentives to keep the Mitsubishi plant open. The Tribune article also did not mention that the local union struck a deal worth millions of dollars to Mitsubishi to cut and freeze wages through 2015.

The Tribune is wrong to say Illinois did not try to help Mitsubishi succeed.

Maybe we could attract a pro-union German or American automobile company to the Normal factory.

We don’t want to engage in a race to the bottom in Illinois.

Comment by Enviro Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 4:55 pm
Lately, auto manufacturers get millions in tax incentives to locate a manufacturing plant in any State.

Does anyone know how much Diamond Star, Chrysler and Mitsubishi have received in total State and local government incentives over the short lifetime of this facility?

Comment by Chicago 20 Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 5:26 pm