By Brian E. Clark
RISING
Janesville
This Rock County city breathed a big sigh last week when 2,600 GM
hourly employees (6 percent of the city’s workforce) went back to work
at the end of a two-day strike by the United Auto Workers union.
Tentative contract deals include a commitment by GM to build SUVs at
the plant beyond 2012. That news was greeted by relief by workers, who
see continued employment for another five-plus years. Locals say the
48-hour job action had little effect on their community.
Ron Gettelfinger, the UAW president, says the agreement protects
existing jobs. But some union members are miffed that the UAW would
take over the paying for retired employee health programs after a GM
investment of $35 billion. They are upset because a similar plan for
Caterpillar retirees has gone broke.
GM shares closed Monday at $36.05, near its 52-week high of $38.66.
MIXED
Madison metro area jobs
The Madison metropolitan area – which includes Dane, Columbia and Iowa
counties – fell 60 places for new jobs created among the 200 largest
metro areas.
According to a new report issued by the Milken Institute, the Madison
area slipped from No. 35 to 95. State budgetary problems and a slowdown
in the real estate market slowed the stalled the region’s job creation
engine. See the study at
http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bc200_2007.html
On the other hand, a government report shows Madison’s economy grew
about three times faster than Milwaukee’s in the recovery from the last
recession. The study said that while Milwaukee’s heavy industry based
economy is struggling to adapt to the 21st century, Madison is well
suited for the high-tech world.
In the Milken report, Milwaukee slipped 25 spots from No.
137 to 162 for new jobs created among the country’s largest metro
areas.
FALLING
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz
Mark Bugher and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz were probably never bosom
buddies, yet the two had worked together fairly well during Bugher’s
four-plus years as head of the city’s Economic Development Commission.
But Bugher, a former Thompson administration cabinet member who now
leads the University Research Park, and Tom Still, president of the
Wisconsin Technology Council, parted ways with Mayor Dave last week.
They split over Cieslewicz’s appointment of Bill Clingan – a top
official at the state Workforce Development Department – to head the
city’s top job creation spot. A third member of the EDC, Noel Radomski,
says he, too, may quit the board.
Bugher and Still wanted the mayor to appoint Matthew Wagner, who heads
the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation, a southeast
Wisconsin development group. Bugher and Still acknowledged the
appointment was Cieslewicz’ to make, but the pair said they viewed it
as a slap in the face of Madison’s business community given a search
committee’s 4-1 vote for Wagner.
Others criticizing Clingan’s appointment included the Greater Madison
Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Madison, Inc. and Smart Growth Madison.
Defending the mayor, his backers say Bugher and Still overreacted.
Cieslewicz wrote a somewhat pointed goodbye note to Bugher, thanking
him for his service, but saying he was disappointed Bugher quit the EDC
“because of a rare occasion on which you and I have an honest
agreement.”
