Top Stories

The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

HIV-AIDS-small
By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

foreclosure
By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

epa_logo
By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

auto industry

UAW ratifies new GM contract

By Ed Brayton | 09.29.11 | 7:22 am

The United Auto Workers ratified the first new collective bargaining agreement with General Motors after 2009′s managed bankruptcy kept the automaker alive. The deal is good for four years.

The Detroit News reports:

General Motors Co. rank-and-file approved the automaker’s proposed four-year contract with the United Auto Workers by a 2-to-1 majority, the union said Wednesday.

In the final tally, 65 percent of production workers and 63 percent of skilled trade workers voted in favor of the deal, ratifying a tentative agreement struck two weeks ago by GM and UAW bargainers. The new contract becomes effective immediately.

“The UAW and GM entered into this set of bargaining as America struggles with record levels of unemployment and an economy that shows little sign of improvement,” said UAW President Bob King in a statement released Wednesday morning.
In all, 48,500 workers from 81 locals got a chance to vote on the contract, which along with providing new jobs and more work for UAW members, boosts the entry-level pay by about $3 an hour, offers $75,000 buyouts for skilled trade workers, and includes a $5,000 signing bonus — to be paid out Oct. 14. Workers also will get a $1,000 “inflation protection” lump sum for the next three years of the agreement.

Negotiations continue on a new contract with Chrysler and Ford.

Comments