Not From the Flint Journal today:
GM to lay off 767 at Poletown plant, eliminate one of two shifts
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
General Motors Corp. will lay off 767 workers at its Hamtramck assembly plant because of lagging demand for two of its high-end sedans, the automaker said on today.
GM will cut one of two shifts at the Poletown factory starting Dec. 14. The factory builds Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS, both of which have lagged in sales this year.
GM Spokesman Tom Wickham said an announcement was broadcast to workers this morning at the plant.
The cuts come weeks after GM reached a labor deal with the United Auto Workers that secures job commitments for many of its U.S. assembly plants. The deal locks in future work, but makes no promises in terms of how many shifts will run and how many workers can stay.
In outlining the deal to Wall Street on Monday, GM said despite the product commitments, the contract leaves flexibility for workforce adjustments.
The Hamtramck plant was among those guaranteed work. Under the deal, the factory gets a new midsize Chevrolet car and what is expected to be a seven-passenger crossover SUV. GM also said it will build the Chevrolet Volt, the automaker's ambitious attempt at a plug-in hybrid, should the car become a reality.
The laid-off workers could fill other openings within the company, Wickham said.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071016/UPDATE/710160451 |