"... for the first time in fifteen years, Master Lock’s unionized plant in Milwaukee is running...

[Scuba]

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2012/feb/01/barack-obama/president-obama-says-master-lock-has-brought-back-/



I'm not a fan of PolitiFact, but they got this one right. In the SOTU address, President Obama said "We can’t bring every job back that’s left our shore. But right now, it’s getting more expensive to do business in places like China. Meanwhile, America is more productive. A few weeks ago, the CEO of Master Lock told me that it now makes business sense for him to bring jobs back home. Today, for the first time in 15 years, Master Lock’s unionized plant in Milwaukee is running at full capacity."



PolitiFact rated it as True, which it is. They also reported a bit more about why Master Lock is bringing jobs home, while deftly managing to avoid giving any credit to the fact it's a union shop.

The cost advantages of overseas production began to decline in the late 2000s. By the end of 2010, the company said, several dozen jobs were moved back to Milwaukee. Employment grew to 379, news reports said.

So what does it mean when the company and Obama say that the plant is operating at "full capacity"? After all, there are nearly 750 fewer people working there than 15 years ago.

"The Milwaukee plant is producing parts and components at a much higher volume than in 1997, reflecting our regained market share and Master Lock's overall revenue growth, which is approximately double 1997 revenues," the company said. "Moreover, Milwaukee-made production is now being sold directly to Master Lock customers in China, reflecting its new competitiveness.

Master Lock said it decided to "re-size and convert Milwaukee into a more automated and highly efficient manufacturer of parts and components regardless of final assembly destination."

[GoCubsGo]

1. That is good news.

As for Politifact, as long as the accurately quoted the President, they reported the fact that this is a union factory, whether or not they intended to report that.

[Scuba]

2. PolitiFact's history of being wrong is legendary...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002228531

[FarCenter]

3. Local 469 workers have right combination for more jobs at Master Lock

"Solidarity", March/April 2011

An additional three dozen workers may not sound like much, considering that in the 1990s the Master Lock facility had 1,300 workers compared to a little more than 25 percent of that number today.

But UAW Local 469 members in Milwaukee are hoping that they’ve turned the corner on the outsourcing of the jobs to Mexico and China.

“Re-sourcing” seems to be the new buzzword, and it’s a word the 337 Master Lock workers hope they hear more often. Master Lock recently announced it would return its combination lock manufacturing to the United States.

http://uaw.org/story/local-469-workers-have-right-combination-more-jobs-master-lock

[Scuba]

4. Thanks for adding.

[CanonRay]

5. I have a Master lock I bought for my bike in 1959

and I'm still using it.

[HopeHoops]

6. That's still the only brand of padlock I'll buy. Good shit, Maynard.

[TheMadMonk]

7. AAAAAANNNNDD full circle.

Master Lock-Financially stable company refuses to agree to fair contract

It could afford to "bring the jobs home" 18 months or so ago, and supposedly "things are picking up". So, it damned well shoud be able to afford to keep them at home today and remain profitable.

HOWEVER! If the company screws its workers down to the same level as has been foisted upon the surviving American assembly (line) worker, it can be more profitable still.