GM Workers at Mexican SUV Plant Vote to Join Carlos Leone Union
Workers at a General Motors Co. SUV plant in Mexico voted in favor of joining the Carlos Leone union as its collective bargaining agent, reversing a trend in which workers were breaking ties with company-friendly labor groups for new independent ones that secured wage gains.
Carlos Leone was elected to represent GM's 6,500 workers in San Luis Potosí with 1,888 votes, beating independent group SINTTIA's 1,115 votes, according to a statement issued by the Labor Ministry. Participation reached 50.5%.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The rise and fall of the 30-year friendship between Bill Gates and Warren Buffett
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have been friends for over 30 years. After hitting it off in their first meeting, they worked together on philanthropy for decades. But their relationship appears to have cooled in recent years. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, who both rank high among the richest men in the world, have been friends for decades. It began in the 1990s and led to joint ventures and world-changing philanthropy. But in recent years, both their business and personal relationships have cooled. Here's what happened. A decades-long friendship. Gates and Buffett's friendship can be traced back to a single day: July 5, 1991. Gates' mother, Mary, invited the late Meg Greenfield, a Washington Post editor, to her home. Greenfield planned to bring her friend Buffett, Business Insider previously reported. Gates didn't want to take the day off work. Mary Gates pressed her son to join them, but he didn't want to take the day off work, Business Insider reported. "What were he and I supposed to talk about, P/E ratios?" Gates later wrote in a column for Fortune. But he chose to show up because Greenfield was also planning to bring legendary Post publisher Katharine Graham, with whom Gates wanted to speak. Buffett made similar comments at the time. Buffett didn't particularly want to meet Gates, either. "While we're driving down there, I said, 'What the hell are we going to spend all day doing with these people? How long do we have to stay to be polite?" Buffett recalled years later to Fortune. But the pair hit it off immediately. To the surprise of both men, they hit it off, Fortune reported. Gates recalled being impressed by Buffett's questions, such as, "If you were building IBM from scratch, how would it look different?" Gates told Buffett to buy stock in Intel and Microsoft. It was the beginning of a deep friendship and a mutual mentorship. Friendship and mentorship alike. Buffett has attended multiple Microsoft events, but he's never served on the company's board or invested in the tech company, Business Insider previously reported. In 2018, he said it would be a conflict of interest due to their close friendship. But Gates didn't have the same concern. Gates didn't seem to worry as much about a conflict of interest. He joined Berkshire Hathaway's board in 2004 after the passing of Buffett's first wife, who was a board member, Market Watch reported. Both say they have a laser focus. Both credit their tremendous success to a laser focus, Alice Schroeder wrote in a biography of Buffett. Gates has written that he's learned from Buffett how to manage his time by prioritizing certain people and tasks. Shortly after they first met, Gates said he asked Buffett for his favorite business book recommendation, and Buffett lent Gates his copy of "Business Adventures" by John Brooks. It's now Gates' favorite business book, too, and he still has Buffett's copy. Joining together on causes. They've often joined forces for political and philanthropic causes. In 2010, Gates and Buffett, along with Gates' then-wife, Melinda French Gates, started The Giving Pledge, which encourages billionaires to donate most of their wealth to charitable causes in their lifetimes or in their wills. To date, about $600 billion has been pledged. Gates also credits Buffett with inspiring him to found the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. Buffett contributed billions to Gates' foundation. Buffett has given part of his fortune, including Berkshire stocks, to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2006, he committed to giving 99% of his wealth to philanthropy and said the Gates Foundation would be the biggest recipient of his donations in his lifetime. Buffett's contributions to Gates' foundation from 2006 through 2023 total at least $39 billion, accounting for the appreciation of Berkshire stock over time, The New York Times reported. They've advocated for policy change, too. In 2014, Gates, Buffett, and Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson published a New York Times op-ed pushing for immigration reform. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Buffett called Gates his "science advisor." In February 2020, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $100 million to fight the pandemic. During the pandemic, they spoke often. Pre-pandemic, they'd been seen trying out mattresses in Buffett's hometown, enjoying Dairy Queen, and playing ping pong. In July 2020, Yahoo's Andy Serwer wrote that during the pandemic Warren and Gates were "talking on a more regular basis." Buffett told Serwer that the two men scheduled a weekly hourlong call, but they usually exceeded the allotted time. That same year, Gates resigned from his roles at Berkshire Hathaway and Microsoft. The billionaire said he wanted "to dedicate more time to philanthropic priorities." But things have evolved amid Gates's life changes. Over the years, Buffett's feelings about Gates appeared to have cooled. The New York Times reported in August that Buffet began to believe the Gates Foundation had become bureaucratically bloated, hindering philanthropic productivity. He was disheartened to hear some people found Gates rude. Following the death of disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2019, news emerged that Gates met with Epstein repeatedly. Gates later said the meetings were for philanthropic purposes and were a "huge mistake." After that, things changed even more. In 2021, Gates and his wife announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage. Shortly after, Buffett resigned from the three-person board at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. "My goals are 100% in sync with those of the foundation, and my physical participation is in no way needed to achieve these goals," Buffett said at the time. Buffett said his gifts to the foundation won't continue after he dies. In a 2022 blog post, Gates said half of the Gates Foundation's resources had come from Buffett's gifts. However, Buffett, who is 93 years old, said recently that his 2006 commitment to the foundation would remain only while he lived. In 2023, he detailed plans for his wealth distribution after his death, leaving it to his three children to disseminate. Buffett made no mention of the Gates Foundation, and The New York Times reported his children have unanimously agreed that none of the remaining Berkshire shares will go to the foundation. Gates has stopped posting as much about Buffett. On his blog, Gates once wrote regularly about Buffett. In 2018, he wrote about how the two friends visited a "fantastic" candy store in Ohama, where Buffett lives and works. In 2019, Gates wrote a post titled "Grilling and chilling with Warren." In 2020, Gates wished Buffet a happy 90th birthday. It included a photo of him holding a cake with Buffett's face on it. But the few posts from 2021 and 2022 that mention Buffett are strictly business. Instead of writing about goofy guys' trips, Gates thanked Buffett for his generous contributions to the Gates Foundation. In 2023, Gates didn't mention Buffett in a single post. And in his 20-plus posts so far in 2024, Gates has only mentioned Buffett once, again focusing solely on philanthropy. Buffett continues to support Gates' charitable work Buffett, who announced in May that he would step down from Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year, announced on June 27 that he would donate about 12.4 million Class B shares — common stock of a corporation — to five foundations. That's about $6 billion in total. Despite the cooled friendship, the biggest beneficiary of Buffett's donation will be the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, which will receive 9.4 million shares worth about $4.6 billion. Read the original article on Business Insider
Motor Trend
an hour ago
- Motor Trend
2026 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Lineup Gains New "Sport Trims" Mirroring Light Duty Offerings
If you're looking for more interesting pickup trucks, 2025 has been the year for you. Ford recently expanded the sporty Lobo package to the F-150 from the smaller Maverick, GMC's adding an AT4 off-road version of its all-electric Sierra, and now Ram—after bringing the Hemi V-8 back to its 1500 lineup—is expanding both the Warlock and Black Express trims to the 2500 Heavy Duty truck line. Ram refers to these trims as their 'Sport Truck' options, but maybe don't think too hard about how any Heavy Duty truck can be 'sporty.' The 2026 Ram 2500 lineup introduces the Black Express and Warlock sport trims, based on the affordable Tradesman model. Both feature powerful engines and distinct styling, with prices starting at $53,735 and $57,165, respectively. Available for order, deliveries begin in Q3 2025. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next What will be great news to these potential owners is that both of these 2026 Ram 2500 sport trims are based on the affordable Tradesman model and slot below the Rebel HD in the HD hierarchy. Both trims can come with either the 6.4-liter gas-fed Hemi V-8 with 405 hp and 429 lt-ft of torque or the Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel with 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. Either engine will also come with the Torqueflite HD eight-speed automatic transmission. Both get Crew Cab bodies that will come in Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Forged Blue, Flame Red, Ceramic Grey, and Molten Red. They will both also come with power adjustable Convex tow mirrors, 20-inch wheels, cloth bench seats, and cloth carpet as standard. From here, the Black Express and Warlock deviate. The 2026 2500 Black Express is offered in rear- or four-wheel drive with a long or short bed, making it a bit more tailored to a working environment while still being a 'Sport Truck.' The body features a sport performance hood and body-color bumpers and grille surround. Along the rocker panels will be a set of black cab-length side steps while the 20-inch wheels will be finished in black. Inside drivers and passengers will see carpeted floor mats while the driver will have added assurance while parking with the standard front and rear parking sensors. In all, the Black Express will add a very reasonable $2,495 to the cost of the 2026 2500 Tradesman for a starting price of $53,735. The 2026 2500 Warlock is only available with four-wheel drive and the short bed, which wears 'Warlock' decals on its bedsides. The grille surround, flares, and bumpers are all finished in black, while the 20-inch diamond cut wheels are wrapped in 34-inch Goodyear Duratrac A/T tires and the transfer case gets a skid plate. Oddly, the Warlock doesn't get any sort of step bar or rock slider option for its rocker panels, though it is possible such pieces would be available through Mopar later on. It's also mechanically distinguished from both the standard Tradesman and the Black Express thanks to a standard limited slip rear differential, Bilstein dampers tuned for both pavement and off-roading, and hill descent control. Inside, the major difference comes in the form of all-weather floor mats for front and rear bench seat occupants. This also means that the price of the Warlock is higher than the Black Express, boosting the price of a Tradesman by $2,995 to a starting ask of $57,165. If either of these trims tickle your fancy, you can order these 2026 Ram 2500 Tradesman-based Black Express or Warlock right now and it should arrive at your dealer by the third quarter of this year, after being assembled at the Saltillo, Mexico plant.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
4 Easy Ways To Add Value To Your Business
Whether you're preparing for a potential sale or just looking to boost profitability, adding value ... More doesn't have to be overwhelming. Want to add value to your business but don't know where to start? Whether you're preparing for a potential sale or just looking to boost profitability, adding value doesn't have to be overwhelming. With some focused effort, you can make changes that not only increase your bottom line but also make your business more attractive to business buyers down the road. Let's dive into four easy ways to add value to your business that you can implement starting today. 1. Spend Less Without Compromising Quality Cutting costs is one of the simplest ways to increase profit margins, and it can have an immediate impact on your business's valuation. The key is to do it strategically, without sacrificing the quality of your products or services. If you've been working with certain suppliers for years, you may have built up goodwill by consistently paying on time or increasing your order volumes. Use this as leverage to renegotiate better terms. For example: Small changes in supplier agreements can add up to significant savings over time, directly boosting your profit margins. Review your regular expenses and look for inefficiencies. Common areas to evaluate include: Waste can drain resources. Whether it's excessive materials in production or unused inventory, minimizing waste can save money and make your business more efficient. Implement a regular review of inventory and operational processes to spot areas of unnecessary expenditure. By carefully managing costs, you'll see an immediate boost in profitability, and because buyers pay close attention to profit margins, this makes your business more appealing when it's time to sell. 2. Earn More by Working Smarter Increasing revenue is a direct path to adding value, but not all income is created equal. To truly boost your business's worth, focus on strategies that maximize profitability. Many business owners overlook the importance of regular price adjustments. When was the last time you raised your prices? If you haven't done so recently, you're likely leaving money on the table. Consider: Not all sales contribute equally to your bottom line. Analyze your product or service portfolio to identify: Once you have this data, double down on what's working. Shift your marketing, sales, and operational focus toward these profitable areas to maximize earnings. Upselling (encouraging customers to buy a higher-priced option) and cross-selling (offering complementary products) are proven techniques for increasing revenue. Train your team to identify opportunities for these strategies, and make it easy for customers to say yes. Extra Resources: How To Grow Your Business In 2025: 4 Low-Cost Ideas 10 Ways To Grow Your Small Business And Make It Attractive To Buyers By strategically increasing prices and focusing on high-margin offerings, you're not just growing your revenue—you're also demonstrating to potential business buyers that your business has a solid growth strategy in place. 3. Make Your Business Easier to Run Efficiency is a game-changer for any business. When operations run smoothly, costs go down, customers are happier, and your team is more productive. More importantly, an efficient business is a sign of a strong business model, something every buyer is looking for. The first step to improving efficiency is to document how things are done now. Then, work with your team to identify the best way to handle each task and standardize those processes. Examples include: When everyone follows the same procedures, you'll reduce errors and improve consistency across the board. Automation tools can save time and reduce human error. Consider automating tasks like: Happy customers lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth. To streamline their experience: Extra Resource: 5 Ways AI Can Help Grow Your Business And Sell For 10X An efficient, well-documented business doesn't just save you money, it also makes your company more attractive to business buyers. It shows that your business can operate smoothly, even under new ownership. 4. Make Your Business Independent of You If your business relies heavily on you, it's not truly sellable. Buyers want to know that the company can thrive without you at the helm. This means shifting the focus from you to your company brand, and empowering your team to take on leadership roles. If customers associate your business too closely with you, it's time to spotlight your company brand instead. Strategies include: The goal is to show that the business has value beyond your personal involvement. Extra Resource: From Personal To Business Brand: 3-Steps Shift If you're the sole decision-maker, you're creating a risk for potential buyers. Start delegating key responsibilities to trusted team members. This can involve: A formal succession plan ensures that your business can transition smoothly to new ownership. This plan might include: Extra Resource: Why Being A Jack Of All Trades Entrepreneur Is Holding You Back By making your business less dependent on you, you reduce the risk for business buyers, and that means a higher valuation. You're also setting your company up for long-term success, even after you've stepped away. Why Adding Value Matters Adding value to your business isn't just about increasing profits today; it's about building a stronger, more sustainable company for the future. Whether you're planning to sell in a year or a decade, the steps you take now will have a lasting impact on your business's worth. Final Thoughts Adding value to your business doesn't have to be complicated. By focusing on these four areas—spending less, earning more, improving efficiency, and reducing dependence on yourself—you can create a business that's not only more profitable but also more attractive to potential buyers. The best time to add value to your business is now. Whether you're looking to sell in the near future or simply want to build a stronger company, these steps will set you on the path to success. Remember, every improvement you make today will pay off tomorrow—in higher profits, smoother operations, and a business that's ready for whatever the future holds.
