Automotive Department Director Boysen Anderson and Linda Hanna, Secretary.

Automotive

The IAM’s renewed Automotive Department is among the fastest growing departments in the union representing more than 45,000 automotive and truck technicians and mechanics nationwide. There was an increase of 5.49 percent automotive members for the year 2003.

The Automotive Department works for strong contracts, complete job security, and effective safety standards. The Automotive Department has a wide variety of responsibilities, assignments and goals. These include new car and truck dealerships, Over the Road trucking, Truck Drive-away; Car-Haulers, Auto and Truck Rental and Leasing, Bus Companies, Apprenticeship, Licensing, as well as organizing the Automotive Industry.

The Automotive Department furnishes local lodges with contract data detailing rates of pay, benefits, and working conditions. We assist in multi-agreement negotiations, working toward regional and national agreements, as well as provide information so that automotive and non-automotive locals and districts are aware of the organizing potential in the automotive industry. We also ensure the continual monitoring and appropriate response to legislative issues affecting the interests of members employed in the automotive industry.

New Car Dealerships

The 2002 model year hit sales of 15.4 million vehicles, with light truck sales accounting for approximately 50.8 percent of the industry’s total sales volume. General Motors continues to lead the industry, even though it produced 8.5 percent fewer vehicles in November, 2002.

Auto dealerships have had some dramatic changes with Ford acquiring Aston Martin, Jaguar, the purchase of the Volvo passenger car, and a 33.4 percent stake in Mazda exercising management control of the company since the early 1990s.

Daimler-Benz purchased Chrysler Corporation in 1998, creating Daimler-Chrysler. Daimler-Chrysler production rose 4.6 percent. This purchase changed the United States auto industry that was known as the “big three" auto makers (General Motors, Ford and Chrysler).