Last September, the UAW announced Local 1112 and 1714 would merge under one union chapter at the Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant. Now, the merger is official, and Robert Morales, president of Local 1714, said the move will make the facility more cost-effective, The Vindicator reported last Sunday.
GM Lordstown was the only U.S. facility represented by two unions, which made for longer bargaining processes and doubled services.
There’s certainly an underlying reason for the merger, which folds Local 1714 after 47 years. Workers at the Lordstown plant had a rough 2017 with 1,200 workers laid off and slumping demand for its sole product built, the Chevrolet Cruze. Union leaders believe the merger will help make the plant more attractive for a new vehicle.
“It’s up to us to earn that product,” Morales said.
Leaders realize it’s not the plant or GM’s fault for tough times at Lordstown, but merely the result of a shifting market towards crossovers, SUVs and trucks. Chevrolet Cruze sales continue to fall and fell 45.5 percent last month.
GM Lordstown Communications Manager Thomas Mock previously announced that “adjustments” were inbound last September, though there’s been no official word yet. Mock added in the new report that he would not comment on future product or plans.
Workers at the plant had a resounding message for GM brass as they transition to one union chapter: bring it, and the plant will build it.
Comments
The words “union” and “cost effective” should never be in the same sentence.
Such a shame how Socialism is grabbing a hold of this country. Each new generation just keeps on getting more and more entitled.
I am a retired union Sprinkler Fitter (fire protection systems). Our union members out preformed non union companies as far as cost per job and time per job! Our people were trained and took pride in the work that they preformed. Most all of the Fire Marshalls and general contractors would rather have union workers than non- union workers on the job. You should really check into this before you make such statements.
Of course they”ll out perform the non union workers, they had a middle man that “got their back” for the small small price of a union due. What they didn’t have is the self respect to get their own back.
EVA, the Union workers at the Lordstown Plant in Ohio build the Chevy Cruze.
The Cruze that Consumer Reports picked as the top compact car.
Well if you really take a look at the Lordstown UAW they have learned their lessons and really have been working with GM well.
After years of failed Steel Unions the UAW also is aware Lordstown is a massive plant that could easily be shut down if they get greedy.
They have been working well with GM and GM has rewarded them well. The problem now is the bottom has fallen out of the Cruze and I expect we may see changes at the plant to maybe a CUV at some point. GM will take care of them as long as they continue to cooperate.
I am as big of a anti Union guy as you can get after seeing how it decimated things here in NE Ohio. But I can see people here are learning and unions are being more reasonable.
If they have to have a union GM could use more locals like the Lordstown unit. Many could learn from their work together.
Foreign steel and the Arab Oil Embargo decimated the rust belt.
No what killed things here were unions that would not deal and the jobs went south.
Case in point Tire builders were working 5 days 6 hours a day.
The 6 hours came about due to the depression where the companies added a 4th shift to add jobs many needed.
Times changed and companies needed that hour a day back in the 70’s. The union refused. And the new plants went to non union areas. The leadership from the union kept their jobs but the workers lost theirs.
Now keep in mind the tire builders were doing well. They all had good homes new cars every year and even some owned airplanes. It was a tough job but the made good money back then.
The union left and then they found they had little retirement.
Lordstown was the largest plant GM had. They were the show case but then the Unions tried to act like the steel unions and GM started to move things. First the van plant etc.
The union finally woke up and things have been much better since.
I expect if the Cruze sales keep falling GM will keep the plant viable due to their efforts to work with them.
Sure imports did not help but they were only a part of the equation. It is a deal everyone needs to work together.
The truth is GM has more plants than they need. This has been a burden but today it is a benefit as it makes the Unions become more competitive when bidding for work. As stated here it is up to them to earn the work not just expect it. That is refreshing to hear from a Union for once.
Unlike in Canada where they are still making demands on GM. If push comes to shove the union bidding the best and doing the best work will get the jobs and investment.
LT or any other plant can be easily retrofitted to build what ever they need and jobs can be moved easily anymore.
Some union locals like LT get it but others like the CAW just don’t get it.
Also the stake the UAW now owns of GM stock also is giving them more of a reason to keep GM profitable. I think them having skin in the game has changed their outlook.