Here's a deeper look into the top trending stories in manufacturing today based on reader feedback. The UAW heads south; another look at Samsung's Galaxy Gear; and Microsoft's purchase of Nokia phones and patents. Below these stories, check out links to other related news and features at Manufacturing Business Technology.
Report: UAW, VW Meet On Representing Tenn. Workers
DETROIT (AP) -- A German newspaper says United Auto Workers union officials met last week with Volkswagen to discuss representing workers at VW's Chattanooga, Tenn., plant.
The Handelsblatt business daily says UAW President Bob King and five other officials were at VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, to meet with the employee relations chief. Continue reading...
Commenter mark had this to say:
"UAW is outdated and needs to be dissolved. Giving workers the option to join is not the answer. A better approach would be to have unity within the organization, offer benefits, pensions, etc. and giving employees an incentive to improve and excel is a much better approach. Unions will break company's foundation, just look at what happen to the big 3, all had to file [bankruptcy] of some sort."
Indeed others are concerned about the UAW getting too involved in the South. In a follow-up story, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam warned that his state's prospects could suffer if the UAW succeeds in representing workers at Volkswagen's lone U.S. assembly plant in Chattanooga.
"We have heard from other folks that we're recruiting that that would be dampen their enthusiasm with Tennessee," Haslam said. Continue reading...
First Look At Samsung's Smartwatch
Samsung unveiled it's smartwatch last week, named Galaxy Gear, that connects to its Note 3 phone and allows users to answer calls and take pictures with the device on their wrist.
Here's a second look at Galaxy Gear and what it does:
Microsoft Buying Nokia Phones, Patents For $7.2B
REDMOND, Wash. (AP) -- Microsoft is buying Nokia's line-up of smartphones and a portfolio of patents and services in an attempt to mount a more formidable challenge to Apple and Google as more people pursue their lives on mobile devices.
The 5.44 billion euros ($7.2 billion) deal announced late Monday marks a major step in Microsoft's push to transform itself from a software maker focused on making operating systems and applications for desktop and laptop computers into a more versatile and nimble company that delivers services on any kind of Internet-connected gadget. Continue reading...
Take a look at what the deal entails and what it means for Microsoft and Nokia:
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