BOSTON—The price for domestically manufactured plastics has plummeted because of the natural gas boom, according to MIT Technology Review. In the United States, for example, it currently costs $300 to make a ton of ethylene from the ethane found in natural gas, down steeply from $1,000 a few years ago. The cost to make it in Asia is $1,717.

INGERSOLL, ON—The Canadian Auto Workers canceled a Sunday ratification vote on a new contract for union members at GM’s assembly plant here after negotiations hit a snag.

SEATTLE—Boeing Co. will lay off approximately 800 Seattle-area machinists by the end of 2013 following completion of certain work on its 787 and 747-8 jumbo jets.

GREENSBORO, NC—RF Micro Devices Inc., a manufacturer of radio frequency devices, is moving its manufacturing from Britain to an assembly plan here.

CHATTANOOGA, TN—The UAW has won the backing of an influential German union in its effort to represent the hourly workers at Volkswagen’s assembly plant here.

WAYNE, MI—Ford Motor Co.’s revamped Michigan Assembly Plant here supports 24,000 statewide jobs and injects $1.8 billion annually into Michigan’s economy, according to analysis from the Center for Automotive Research.

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC—Boeing Co. will pay $12.5 million for about 320 acres across the street from its 787 assembly plant here.

EVANSVILLE, IN—Systems integrator Evana Automation Specialists has delivered two lean workstations to assemble, grease, mark and test input pinion assemblies for a Tier 1 automotive supplier of commercial steering components.

CANTON, MS—A Baptist minister in Jackson, MS, is leading efforts to unionize Nissan’s assembly plant here.

NEW HOLLAND, PA—Pequea Machine Inc., a manufacturer of agricultural equipment, has reshored production of gearboxes from China due to quality issues.