GM CEO Mary Barra said that all workers who lost their jobs in the automaker’s recent plant closures have a position waiting for them elsewhere at GM. But there’s a catch. The CEO revealed during an interview with Axios on HBO that these people will need to consider relocating to a different city or state.
We’ve recently reported how the change has impacted some GM employees who relocated from the GM Lordstown plant in Ohio, former home to the discontinued Chevrolet Cruze, to the GM Toledo transmission plant. Relocating for a job, especially for families, implies selling the house, finding another one, and relocating the kids to a new school. For young families, relocating to a different city for a new job can have a significant impact on the future of their children.
During her interview, the GM CEO stated that the plant closures were inevitable for the company to “remain alive for the next fifty years, not just the next five.” Barra claimed the decision came at a time when the economy was strong, giving birth to entirely new job opportunities for GM employees. Though she admits that some of these new jobs are in a different location, she also said that “GM wants all of its employees to stay at GM”.
Back in November of 2018, the 6.2 million-square-foot Lordstown factory, previously responsible for assembling the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, was shut down as part of an ongoing GM restructuring plan, as the automotive industry undergoes what has been referred to as the biggest shift in history. The plant’s closure resulted in the loss of 4,500 jobs as North American car buyers shift toward utility vehicles like CUVs and SUVs from sedans. At the same time, GM is investing heavily in electric vehicles and plans to release 20 new EV models by 2023, despite demand for such vehicles being very low.
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Source: WXYZ Detroit
Comments
another GM PR video from the camera hogging Machete Mary spewing the same bull about a future filled with flowers and butterfly and lies about how much she cares about the employees she canned. If she spent as much time doing her job as she does hogging the spotlight, perhaps GM could be dominant again
Imagine the FedEx truck pulling up to your house and delivering the dreaded FORCE letter to Wentzville, Missouri.
Please report next week or lose your benefits and cut ties with GM.
YES THISIS GOING ON!!!!!!!!
I wish someone would do a story on the REAL story behind the “jobs for everyone” BS
Take care of the people that can’t leave their elderly parents, children etc behind.
So many people have suffered so much from GREEDY MOTORS. Offer the attrition package that GM negotiated if a plant is “closed”. The “unallocated” play on words is causing people to commit suicide. stress related deaths etc.
We lost another brother last night from a heart attack because he was stressed out.
YES THIS IS GOING ON MARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Build theTrailblazer, Encore GX, electric Hummer, WHATEVER in Lordstown!
At least they have guaranteed jobs at the end of the move.
Some of us have had to move long distances when employers go bankrupt taking all severance and 1/3 of our pensions with them, leaving many family and friends behind, not to mention starting all over again.
Move if you want a continued job at GM, stay where you are if you don’t.
Sorry, but my empathy, especially over Oshawa, is missing.
Mary? Is that you???????
This comment is spot on. It all depends on how badly you want your job or is your social life and present surrounding more important than to continue in a job of your chosen profession.
There is an alternative, you could change jobs, if there are any available in your city, however it won’t likely be in your chosen profession, so which is more important, ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE.
Another situation that may change your attitude is if you were appointed a management position at 3 times your present salary, would it be worth your while to relocate even across the country.
It would be nice if they give them an incentive for moving or some type of assistance. I would hate to up and leave family for a job I’m not saying I wouldn’t but some of these people have grew up there and have there kids growing up there and it’s home for a lot of reasons. I never liked the decision but I understand how things work and everything isn’t always good for the American worker.
They do get a nice relocation package. And all the overtime they can handle at the truck shops that they are being moved to.
“The CEO revealed during an interview with Axios on HBO that these people will need to consider relocating to a different city or state.” Or, maybe even a different country! There’s a job waiting for the good people from the Mahoning Valley down in ole’ Mexico.
This is all on her. Good products sell. Good products keep factories humming. Good products keep workers employed. GM’s product lineup continues to be mediocre under her tenure and Mary’s response is not to fix that but to close plants and sell off operations in unending attempts to “rightsize” GM or “align capacity” as she says.
I say it’s time for Mary to move. She’s just another lifer who learned her craft from Roger Smith and Bob Stempel. Smith destroyed GMs once dominant product lineup and Bob started closing the plants as a result. All these years later, Mary is still closing the plants instead of going back to building compelling cars.
GM has been making use gypsies since the 80ties nothing new about this just trying to get rid of older worked and keep lower paid temporary workers
I hate it because they have a plan in Reno Nevada that I wanted to transfer to and they won’t let anyone transfer to it because it’s a SPO plant I think that is unfair because it is still a GM facility and I needed to transfer out there because my mom was sick and has lung cancer and I needed to get closer to her but they won’t let us transfer until that point which is very very stupid they need to consider re-opening or allowing people to transfer to those plants why should they get the benefit of relaxation and no one else can
Number one rule in life. If you want stable work and long term security never work production line.
I was there and found you will not work a full year for at least 15 years with out a lay off. Also you will get bumped by union workers with more seniority at any time. the company does not trust the union and the union does not trust the company.
Many production lines at most MFG are soul stealing mindless reception jobs that will destroy you over time.
Get an education or a true skill and get out there and make a decent living that will not drive you nuts.
I got laid off and finally got a job that fit my skills and education and this year will celebrate 25 years of a job i love. The other company called me back for 3 years and i said sorry not interested.
I have learned life is what you make of it and the goals you set.
Today you do not need a Collage degree as many skills pay very well. My father in law was making six figures welding before he retired. They kept calling him back for jobs to do because they could not find anyone to replace him that has the skills or would show up every day.
Today companies have to deal with global competition and it has killed the loyalty in production. While the cuts and closing can be harsh there often would be no company if they are not made.
With the Job market out there now there are some very good opportunities available. Many companies can not get enough people to work even at a good wage. Generally if you show up every day pass a drug test and do a half decent job they will love you.
Note too with a 30% decline expected in sales market wide I would not be looking into the automotive assembly jobs.
Just saying. The Writings on the wall.
When GM laid off over 4000 salaried engineers and management employees in February, and with Ford in same situation a couple months later, there are allot less future college graduates considering automotive for anything, not just assembly. Unlike the GM assembly line workers, there was no offer of another job at the end of a relocation for the laid off salaried employees, just a wave goodbye.
No but there are many more technologies that are growing.
I work in the automotive sector but I would not recommend it to my son.
My father did the same in the tire industry and did me a favor.
Always work to what is growing not contracting.
One of those “growing” technologies is the marijuana industry. With a number of states legalizing the stuff, their auto sectors are going to pot.
No pun intended?
The growing industry there will be detox as they are no longer playing with the natural stuff.
the union workers think they are something special and should be treated with kid gloves. the days of the union dictating the terms to the business are over if anyone wants a job in the USA. the unions are why the car companies moved overseas not the wages as the off shore car companies that build factories in the USA are paying the same wages and benefits but without union interference in running their business. how much a month not paying union dues add to their pay check ??
What many forget is America has a long history of work migration.
The south was devastated after the Civil War and went for nearly over a century with little growth and work. People for decades would relocate to the north for work.
Readin, Ritin, and Route 21 was one of rather sayings as was the Hillbilly Highway that many traveled to Cleveland, Akron, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and. Chicago.
Families were separated and still are as I still have family in the south.
This travel is not anything new.
Even weather like in the dust bowl can move millions.
Logistics in the US are a non-factor. Replace the jobs in the same local as you have ELIMINATED! Period. People need to relocate to accommodate your corporate/stockholder position? Seriously? F’n BS and I call you out! Barra gets her 21$$ million bonus and the common worker must relocate…..how nice as THEY make her bonus possible. F’n scum and always will be for the “profit”. Who’s the MAIN beneficiary of the “profit”????? Barra and the stock holders who ALSO happen to be the 1%, not the middle class. Oh yeah…let’s not forget it was TAXPAYER $$$$$$$ to save GM’s F’ ups in the first place!!! Forget that????? BS I decry once again….
Logistic have nothing to do with it. The fact GM has more plants than they need is a problem.
Each of the big three are suffering over capacity and they need to pare down the number of plants. The combination of declining markets and more efficient plants has reduced the need for so many plants and workers.
You can piss and moan about Mary but any CEO trying to keep a automaker competitive is not going to keep plants open just to employ people who are not needed any longer.
Now logistics bare in effect for the export of some models due to trade rules to other countries from other counties.
Note the Blazer is one of the few American GM models shipped throughout South America. The trade laws are cheaper from Mexico than America.
I do not see Ford closing plants, and FCA is actually building a new one in Detroit. The only reason why GM is closing plants is that they have not offered the customer what they want- period. If Machete Mary were doing her job, she would have read the market better as FCA did three years ago, and retooled immediately to truck and CUV production. The best thing that could happen to GM is a thorough gutting of executive row starting with Machete Mary.
FCA us over capacity in Europe in a bad way as well some other areas. The new plants in Detroit is just a drop in the bucket.
Ford has along history of closed plants over the last 20 years, Just in my area the Lorain plant, the Brook Park plant is just a shadow of what it was. the Stamping plant in North Field is gone. The closing by Ford on NE Ohio were much more spread out but much more damaging than Lordstown.
Ford and Chrysler still have plants that will close in the future. Both are way behind on cutting production capacity and cutting cost. Hence the low stock prices.
I’m sure she has had to move her family as well. One difference.
These families don’t make, multi-millions a year.
See the difference, Mary?
And some other differences. If Machete Mary had to move for a corporate position, she would get the following at GM’s expense: A bonus, a property management company to take care of her mansion in her hometown, private tutors for her children, a nice house with maids in the city she is relocating to, and a job for her spouse.
For Machete Mary, employees are an expense and they are expendable. They have no more status in her eyes that a tool, workbench, or desk.
the nay sayers here forget GM went belly up once already because of too many workers and plants and if they don’t get their costs under control that can happen again and there will be a hell of a lot more union workers looking for a job.
Amen
imo Mary should be relocated to another company
I had to relocate in 93 . Economically , it was the best move for me . Really screwed the family ties though . It’s a really tough decision . If you have older family counting on you , it’s heartrending .
Very little for factory workers in the Youngstown area now . Unless you can retire or have a fall back career you have little choice .
all industries make pollution and if the area gets to expensive to meet the local emission rules the industry will move where they are welcome.. if things keep going the USA will be the cleanest country in the world with no jobs except if you wear a suit to work. the coal miners are the first and your job could be next