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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 ...
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.
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.
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
Arizona is close, has nice golf courses and less competition for workers.
In this case, however, anything that puts another crimp into the plans for a train to nowhere is OK in my book.
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.
“Arizona is close, has nice golf courses and less competition for workers.”
and the worstest summers in the nation.
Well, that depends on whether or not you like to live like incubating chocolate chip cookies.
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.
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.
Quite depressing actually.
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.
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.
..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.
I wonder who advised them to try Cal in the first place?
Bigger than Barstow? Congrats!
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.
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