plus 3, Gov't OK's Toyota Gas Pedal Fix - CBS News

Gov't OK's Toyota Gas Pedal Fix - CBS News
Consumers, Teamsters Protest Fiat/Chrysler at Washington D.C. Auto ... - YAHOO!
Toyota's pedal repair plans due next week - Detroit Free Press
Tool box maker tosses in treats for soldiers - Zanesville Times Recorder

Gov't OK's Toyota Gas Pedal Fix - CBS News

Posted: 30 Jan 2010 02:10 PM PST

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Consumers, Teamsters Protest Fiat/Chrysler at Washington D.C. Auto ... - YAHOO!

Posted: 30 Jan 2010 01:05 PM PST

Protesters Handbill, Sing & Dance, Telling Auto Show Attendees to 'Beware the Bailout Bandit'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, dozens of Teamsters who deliver new cars for a living, along with consumer activists from CarBuyersBeware.com, handbilled outside the Washington, D.C. Auto Show and staged a song and dance action inside the show venue to demand Fiat/Chrysler not destroy the jobs that support them and their families.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)

Fiat/Chrysler received $14 billion in the taxpayer-funded auto bailout that was meant to help the economy and save jobs. However, the company is now moving work away from the professional carhaul companies that have delivered their vehicles to dealerships for many years. The loss of this work could put these carriers out of business, leaving up to 5,000 people without jobs and health care. And by using cut-rate carriers, Chrysler risks new cars being damaged when delivered.

"Fiat/Chrysler is moving work to less-experienced companies whose drivers are not well-trained," said Teamsters Carhaul Division Director Fred Zuckerman. "If improperly secured and transported, new cars can sustain hidden damages to tires, rims, axles and the overall frame. This can threaten your safety and can lead to costly repair bills in the future."

Outside the auto show, consumer activists and union members handed out leaflets to attendees that read, "Fiat/Chrysler Buyers Beware: Hidden Damages On New Cars?" while inside, demonstrators broke into a song and dance routine to raise attention of these issues to auto show attendees.

"After Fiat/Chrysler received so much taxpayer money, it's outrageous that they would outsource good jobs to low-wage contractors," Zuckerman said. "In this economy, America cannot afford to lose even more good jobs with good benefits. American car buyers and taxpayers, who thought Fiat/Chrysler would repay them with gratitude and loyalty instead of greed, are being betrayed."

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

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Toyota's pedal repair plans due next week - Detroit Free Press

Posted: 30 Jan 2010 02:10 PM PST

Toyota will announce plans next week for repairing 2.3 million vehicles under recall for accelerator pedals that could stick, but the timeframe for completing the repairs has yet to be finalized, the company said Friday.

The Japanese automaker took another public relations hit when Consumer Reports, one of the most-watched arbiters of automotive quality, pulled its "recommended" ratings from the eight Toyota models whose sales have been halted until Toyota provides a repair. The magazine also advised shoppers to avoid used models under the recall.

Toyota was also summoned to a U.S. House Oversight committee hearing next Thursday on the recall. It had already been asked to provide data and testify at a Feb. 25 hearing by a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee headed by Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak after committee staffers explored the issue with Toyota earlier this week and were left with several questions.

Combined with a recall of 5.4 million vehicles because of floor mats that could also lead to sudden acceleration, Toyota now has 5.6 million vehicles under recall.

The automaker had been working on two possible repairs dealers could perform for the accelerator pedal flaw and had discussed options with federal regulators.

CTS, the supplier that made the pedal at the center of the recall, said it is building replacement pedals in its factories.

"We will not start recalling and repairing vehicles, but we will be able to tell people what our plans are and a tentative start date for those plans," said Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons.

Toyota's European operations said Friday its recall for the same problem would cover up to 1.8 million vehicles, but the automaker did not plan to stop production of the affected models as it had in North America.

The six plants where the models are built in the United States and Canada halt production for at least one week starting Monday.

Consumer Reports said its yanking of the recommended label was necessary because "our position is that you shouldn't compromise on safety," said Jim Guest, president of Consumers Union, which issues Consumer Reports.

The move also applied to the Pontiac Vibe, which Toyota had built for GM until this year.

GM said Friday the Vibe was safe to drive and it was waiting for more information from Toyota.

Also on Friday, Hyundai and Chrysler joined Ford and General Motors in offering incentives for Toyota owners to buy their vehicles.

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Tool box maker tosses in treats for soldiers - Zanesville Times Recorder

Posted: 30 Jan 2010 02:24 PM PST

VAN WERT -- Workers who make tool storage units are stocking them with candy bars, cards and letters before they're shipped overseas to U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Employees at Kennedy Manufacturing in western Ohio decided to toss in the care packages after finding out that one their newest customers is the military.

"It's motivational for us. It's the one way we can, in a little way, pay them back for what they're doing over there," said plant manager Jason Lawson, who came up with the idea.

A neighboring company, Tecumseh Packaging Solutions, asked to help out too.

Kennedy Manufacturing makes large tool-storage units used in auto repair shops and factories and ships them worldwide.

The company in December shipped 120 of its large tool chests to Fort Hood in Texas, packing the drawers with supplies and Christmas cards signed by its workers.

The company on Friday began shipping its the latest batch of tool boxes to Afghanistan.

In all, about 250 will go overseas, stocked with mints, toothbrushes and baby wipes.

"Anything that's going to take their mind off the boredom," said Lawson, who spent 10 years in the Marines. "I know what those guys are hurting for."

He also knows the importance of a simple gesture when you're far from home.

"When you're out there, you know what purpose you're serving, but it's good to get a reminder of who you're doing it for and that they appreciate it," he said. "That's what we're trying to do."

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