Company News: Toyota confirms Ford talks
Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. confirmed that Chairman Fujio Cho met with Ford Motor Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday in the wake of media reports of talks between the two companies last week in Tokyo.
Toyota spokeswoman Yasue Kato said Cho and Mulally “met and exchanged greetings,” but refused to offer any further details, including when and where the talks took place. She added that Toyota “regularly holds meetings with other automakers when the opportunity presents itself.”
The comments came in response to an overnight report on the Wall Street Journal’s Web site and in the Wednesday morning edition of Japan’s Nihon Keizai business daily that the two executives met last week. The meeting took place in Tokyo, the Nihon Keizai said.
The meeting was held at Ford’s request, Kyodo News agency said Wednesday, citing an unidentified Toyota official. The talks appear to have focused on how the two companies can strengthen cooperation in environmental technology, Kyodo and the Nihon Keizai said.
“Some of the 14,000 striking Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. workers began voting Wednesday on a proposed labor deal reached with the world’s third-largest tiremaker while others studied the pact and prepared to vote Thursday.
Larry Watchorn, 49, a 22-year Goodyear employee who voted on the deal in Lincoln, Neb., said he believes the agreement will pass.
United Steelworkers union members in 10 states, including about 1,400 laid off and inactive workers, were scheduled to vote by Thursday on the three-year agreement reached last week.
“Aluminum manufacturer Alcoa Inc. on Wednesday said about 830 hourly workers will return to their jobs Jan. 2 following an eight-week strike, after union members ratified a new four-year contract.
Salaried workers had been running the plant since employees belonging to the United Auto Workers Local 1050 began the strike Nov. 6.
The contract calls for annual wage increases and introduces a company match to Alcoa’s 401(k) plan. The new contract resolves issues over a wage and benefits package and health care, Alcoa said.
The agreement also begins a new attendance policy and limits the overtime available to workers.
Shares of Alcoa added 65 cents, or 2.2 percent, to close at $30.02 on the New York Stock Exchange.