SAN JOSE, CA-They've ruined missiles, silenced communications satellites and forced nuclear power plants to shut down. Now, with the ongoing conversion to lead-free, some electronics makers worry the destruction will be more widespread. MORE
DETROIT-Michigan has lost 34 percent of its auto jobs in the past 5 years, but remains the national center for the car industry, the U.S Labor Department says. MORE
INDIANAPOLIS-International Truck and Engine Corp. says the United Auto Workers union has put bargaining sessions on hold to review the company's proposals for a contract to replace the one that expired this week. MORE
WASHINGTON-New orders at factories fell a bigger-than-expected 3.3 percent in August, the largest decline since January, on big drops in aircraft and auto orders. MORE
LEIPZIG, Germany-BMW is expanding the plant where it build the 3 Series to increase the number of components manufactured there. Construction will begin later this year and is scheduled for completion in 2009. MORE
DETROIT-Both analysts and line workers are questioning whether the job guarantees GM is making as part of a proposed new UAW contract will even be possible economically. MORE
DETROIT-Rank and file workers have begun voting on whether to accept a groundbreaking new contract recently hammered by the UAW leadership and GM. MORE