GM to lay off 3,600 indefinitely, slow down production at 10 plants

[Rob]

GM to lay off 3,600 indefinitely, slow down production at 10 plants

By KATIE MERX and JEWEL GOPWANI • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITERS • November 7, 2008

General Motors Corp. today announced temporary shutdowns and plans to indefinitely lay off about 3,600 workers at 10 plants beginning early next year.

GM said nine plants have been scheduled for an additional down week each, with a tenth plant seeing two additional down weeks.

Reduced production will begin at all 10 plants in January or February.

Spokesman Tony Sapienza said the changes are intended to better align production with the recent steep decline in U.S. consumer demand for new vehicles.

The following GM plants will be affected by the additional week of shut down and lower line rates.

-- Lansing Delta Township: makes Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook; down week of Jan. 5; production of Enclave and Acadia slows Jan. 12.

-- Oshawa: makes Chevrolet Impala, down week of Jan. 5; production slows Jan. 12

-- Hamtramck: makes Cadillac DTS, Buick Lucerne; down week of Jan. 5; production slows Jan. 12

-- Wentsville: makes GMC Savanna and Chevrolet Express; down week of Jan. 5; production slows Jan. 12

-- Bowling Green: makes Cadillac XLR and Chevrolet Corvette; down weeks of Jan. 5 and Jan. 12; production slows Jan. 20

-- Lordstown: makes Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5; down week of Jan. 12; production slows on Cobalt Jan. 20.

-- Spring Hill: makes Chevrolet Traverse; down week of Jan. 12; production slows Jan 20.

-- Fairfax: makes Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu; down week of Jan. 26; production slows Feb. 2.

-- Orion: makes Pontiac G6 and Chevrolet Malibu; down week of Jan. 26; production slows Feb. 2

-- Lansing Grand River: Makes Cadillac CTS, Cadillac STS and SRX crossover; down week of Feb. 2; Beginning Feb. 9, the plant will go from two shifts to one and build at a slightly quicker pace, the plant will go from two shifts to one and build at a slightly quicker pace.


Contact KATIE MERX at 313-222-8762 or kmerx@freepress.com

 

[Little Woman]

I hope the American Automotive industry starts turning things around. Would it be bad if Ford and Gm would team up?

 

[PassionDiva5150]

I hope the American Automotive industry starts turning things around. Would it be bad if Ford and Gm would team up?

Sounds like a great idea to me

 

[SilverX]

Merging two lung cancer patients will not give you a marathon runner.

My 5 cents.

SilverX

I hope the American Automotive industry starts turning things around. Would it be bad if Ford and Gm would team up?

 

[XLR-V Lover]

Merging two lung cancer patients will not give you a marathon runner.

My 5 cents.

SilverX

Very clever post!!! Rates very near the top in pointing out the obvious!!

Floyd (BB)

 

[mswaim]

President of the UAW was on the news this morning defending his call for a piece of the requested auto industry bailout money to augment funding of UAW workers pensions and health benefits.

Now that's funny!!


Both GM and Ford made feeble attempts at producing fuel efficient compact cars in the past; but with sales of trucks and SUV's through the roof and cheap fuel they decided to scrap said plans; mainly due to the fact they could not build smaller cars and compete with imports due to domestic production costs - specifically wage and benefit rates.

As the market kept booming, they pacified the UAW with higher wages and fatter benefits. The average UAW employee costs the company $65 and hour, and some are idle at the time they are being paid. And that covers workers who have nothing to do with the assembling of your car - like the janitors and gardeners who maintain the landscaping.

At some point the UAW need to step up and realize they brought this on themselves. Their wages are totally unrealistic in today's world, much like the CDC (California Department of Corrections) guards who make on average $72,000. In fact, over 2,400 of their members make in excess of $100,000 per year.

All kinda sounds like the housing market........time for a reality check all the way around.

 

[SilverX]

Yep, I am SilverX and I approve this message.

President of the UAW was on the news this morning defending his call for a piece of the requested auto industry bailout money to augment funding of UAW workers pensions and health benefits.

Now that's funny!!


Both GM and Ford made feeble attempts at producing fuel efficient compact cars in the past; but with sales of trucks and SUV's through the roof and cheap fuel they decided to scrap said plans; mainly due to the fact they could not build smaller cars and compete with imports due to domestic production costs - specifically wage and benefit rates.

As the market kept booming, they pacified the UAW with higher wages and fatter benefits. The average UAW employee costs the company $65 and hour, and some are idle at the time they are being paid. And that covers workers who have nothing to do with the assembling of your car - like the janitors and gardeners who maintain the landscaping.

At some point the UAW need to step up and realize they brought this on themselves. Their wages are totally unrealistic in today's world, much like the CDC (California Department of Corrections) guards who make on average $72,000. In fact, over 2,400 of their members make in excess of $100,000 per year.

All kinda sounds like the housing market........time for a reality check all the way around.