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Union demands driving railcar jobs out of California, Japanese firm says
LA Times ^ | 10/20/2014 | Laura J. Nelson

Posted on 10/21/2014 9:13:35 AM PDT by tje

Japanese company's much-celebrated plans to build a light-rail manufacturing plant in Palmdale appear all but dead after months of clashes with local labor unions and community groups.

Kinkisharyo International of Osaka said it is now looking at factory sites outside California, saying pressure from organized labor has made it difficult to do business in the state. Union officials and activists, however, argue they are simply trying to hold the company to environmental rules it should be following.

Kinkisharyo won a $890-million contract to build 175 light-rail cars for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority two years ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; transportation; unions
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They should consider Texas.
1 posted on 10/21/2014 9:13:35 AM PDT by tje
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To: tje

I think I’d go the extra step and manufacture them in Mexico. Once you start any talk of environmental issues...it’s a no-go in most of the fifty states.


2 posted on 10/21/2014 9:15:43 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: pepsionice

I’m surprised they weren’t thinking of Mexico at the beginning.

But the environmental stuff is just part of it. The unions what special considerations too.


3 posted on 10/21/2014 9:18:40 AM PDT by tje
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To: tje
We'll take them in Pocatello. Our switch yard is the largest rail switch yard west of the Mississippi. We have rail connectivity, air connectivity and two major freeways for truck traffic. There is a large base of railroad people with the experience to do the job. The only reticence I have is that the last Japanese company, Hoku, that built a facility here for making silicon photovoltaic cells decided to jump ship before finishing the job.
4 posted on 10/21/2014 9:23:17 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: tje

Maria Elena Durazo, who heads the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the region’s largest union voice, said in an interview that Kinkisharyo will violate its contract with Metro if it takes any jobs out of state. She added that the firm has “done nothing but treat [labor] as if we were outsiders.”

Out and Out LIE, there is NO REQUIREMENT in their contract to produce ANYTHING in California, there was a lengthy article outlining this recently on this site.

Kinkisharyo refused a request for a “card check agreement,” demanded by the thug union known as IBEW. That is what ended it. They are Moving


5 posted on 10/21/2014 9:23:46 AM PDT by eyeamok
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To: tje

Arizona is close, has nice golf courses and less competition for workers.


6 posted on 10/21/2014 9:24:43 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: tje
It's Palmdale! There's probably more chemicals going into the ground due to illegal meth labs than will ever go there from this plant.

In this case, however, anything that puts another crimp into the plans for a train to nowhere is OK in my book.

7 posted on 10/21/2014 9:26:07 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: tje

Unions and EPA are a one-two punch. If you want to get past the environmental impact process and all the myriad environmental groups trying to shut you down, you need union-backing.

Thats how it works. Play ball with the unions, and they’ll get you through it. Don’t play ball and the greens will chew you up and spit you out.


8 posted on 10/21/2014 9:29:11 AM PDT by marron
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To: Vigilanteman

“Arizona is close, has nice golf courses and less competition for workers.”
and the worstest summers in the nation.


9 posted on 10/21/2014 9:40:13 AM PDT by Tupelo (I am feeling more like Phillip Nolan by the day.)
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To: Tupelo
...and the worstest summers in the nation...

Well, that depends on whether or not you like to live like incubating chocolate chip cookies.

10 posted on 10/21/2014 9:57:21 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: pepsionice

The “environmental issues” are fake. From the article:

The document says that the factory has not secured proper water rights, and that construction could kick up spores that carry valley fever.

Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro board member Michael D. Antonovich accused labor leaders of “greenmail” tactics — using the environmental law as leverage to convince Kinkisharyo to promise that its workforce would be unionized.


11 posted on 10/21/2014 10:15:06 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer.)
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To: marron
Here in Florida with regard to developers and other businesses, the enviro-goons don't need to bother with unions as the middle man.

If you're not one of their "friendlies," you either don't get off the ground at all, or they mercilessly bring actions against you until you're out of business.

I would say they're like the mob, but the mob is far cheaper, more American and easier to get along with.

12 posted on 10/21/2014 10:18:37 AM PDT by AAABEST (Et lux in tenebris lucet: et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt)
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To: tje
And to think that for years we were the leader in rail technology and construction.

Quite depressing actually.

13 posted on 10/21/2014 10:26:06 AM PDT by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

It is not the high speed “train to nowhere.” This is the LA County light rail system which was begun quite a few years ago and has been operating all along. These are extensions of that system.

As a retired Californian, I figure another few years and this state will consist of retirees, tourists and illegals. I am glad the Japanese stood up to this union shakedown.


14 posted on 10/21/2014 10:33:58 AM PDT by CdMGuy
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To: CdMGuy
Thanks for the correction.

I have mixed feelings about the light rail and subway systems. It seems like it makes sense for dense cities to have subway systems, but when I found out that even NY's system isn't running at a profit, it makes me think: Why LA?

Light rail also probably contributed to Palmdale becoming Palmton and Lancaster becoming Klancaster.

15 posted on 10/21/2014 10:54:25 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: tje

16 posted on 10/21/2014 11:22:00 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: marron
Play ball with the unions, and they’ll get you through it. Don’t play ball and the greens will chew you up and spit you out.

..which is a compelling reason to cut that obstacle course in half by looking to manufacture only in right-to-work states...

...and no, NY isn't one of those. Emperor Cuomo and his buddy Chuckie actively drive businesses out of this state. Even Remington is leaving after 200 years.

17 posted on 10/21/2014 12:45:14 PM PDT by NoCmpromiz (John 14:6 is a non-pluralistic comment.)
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To: tje

I wonder who advised them to try Cal in the first place?


18 posted on 10/21/2014 12:50:47 PM PDT by morphing libertarian
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To: Myrddin

Bigger than Barstow? Congrats!


19 posted on 10/21/2014 12:51:30 PM PDT by morphing libertarian
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To: morphing libertarian

It was just final assembly, painting and wiring for cars to be delivered to the area. If it was a reasonable place to do business, it would make sense to put the assembly near this area.


20 posted on 10/21/2014 1:01:40 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer.)
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