General Motors is converting 100 temporary employees to salaried workers at the Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri as production at the facility ramps up, per a new report from Detroit Free Press.
Last week, it was reported that the United Auto Workers (UAW) had accused General Motors of violating its contract by putting white-collar workers on the production line at the Wentzville facility. GM said that the use of its white-collar workforce on the assembly line was a response to high rates of absenteeism at the facility in the face of concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
GM stated that the use of white-collar workforce on the production line was necessary to replenish stock of the popular Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickup trucks. However, the UAW said that the practice is in violation of its 2019 labor contract, and subsequently filed a grievance over the the issue.
Now, however, the UAW has said that 100 temporary workers at the Wentzville facility will become permanent workers, per a process outlined in the 2019 contract. The conversion is expected to conclude by the end of September.
Neither the UAW or General Motors would confirm if the conversion was in response to the UAW’s grievance.
“The conversion at Wentzville is a direct result of our UAW’s members’ sacrifice during last year’s 40-day strike,” said UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg. “Through the path UAW members ratified in our contract, UAW members have achieved a defined path to seniority status.”
In addition to converting temporary employees to salaried workers, General Motors is also bringing in permanent workers from other facilities.
“We are on-boarding transfers per the contract,” said GM spokesman Jim Cain. “And we continue to rely on salaried volunteers to help bridge the gaps due to absenteeism.”
In addition to producing the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickup trucks, the GM Wentzville plant also produces the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. The facility typically runs three shifts with 1,250 workers per shift, but GM has indicated that it has struggled to fill all three shifts as COVID-19 cases have surged.
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Comments
I think this article is confused. The source article says 100 employees are being converted from temporary to permanent workers. Permanent hourly workers are different from “salaried” workers.
Yes, I am wondering about the same thing, salaried generally mean management position.
Yes, the Free Press article says they’re converting 100 temporary workers to “permanent” positions.
Pretty sure permanent workers make more than temps and also generally have better benefits. Edit: Yeah, I see the error against the Free Press article now. Hourly vs Salary is just kind of semantics though isn’t it. The important thing these workers all probably got close to a 6k a year pay raise.
Hourly workers are just that, paid by the hour. Salary employees are administrative, labor relations, engineering, and supervisors. Salary employees are not UAW and not paid by the hour. They do not assemble parts or vehicles.
So, if you properly pay and/or incentivize skilled workers they return to work? Why is this even news? This is obviously exactly what needed to happen. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad GM stepped up, but this was really the only solution.
I wager what is getting lost here is the temps are higher Ed trough a temp agency. They are paid a salary by the temp agency while working for GM.
What then happens is if they are hired by GM they then turn to an hourly pay. Then they can join the Union.
The UAW is wanting them to offer the jobs to UAW members. In some cases that is easy in other cases it may be difficult to get people to move to fill the jobs.
These are not managment jobs and once permanent they will not be salary.
Aren’t temps still part of the UAW though? Do you actually know what you’re talking about, or are you just making stuff up? A genuine question.
Temps are not even employees of GM till they are officially hired.
Many companies utilize temp workers for a number of days to fine out who is worth hiring. If they are not suited to the job they just discontinue the employee with no ties.
This makes it easier to bring people in and see how they work before you give them full employment.
I went through this where I work. The company interviewed me and brought me in. Once I got through training and 90 days they made me an official employee.
When I worked at Hoover I was not permitted to join the electrical union till I got through the probationary period. I forget but it was also like 90 days.
When I was in the temp status I did not have any benefits and I was given a starting pay. Once fully employed I gained full benefits, sick time and a pay increase.
The bottom line is it is easier to check out temps and get rid of the ones not working out before you hire them as regular employees.
It is a common practice. Been there done that. That was a genuine answer.
Wrong, temps are employeed by GM and part of the UAW, they just don’t receive full pay or benefits until they are converted to permanent. There are no temp agencies involved, I work there, trust me.
Thanks it is basically the same process, temp to full time.
They Still lack the benefits and full employment.
It is much easier to try out people and terminate problem prospects as a temp. Most companies use outside temp services to keep things even more separate.
Lawsuits are rampant as it is so hard to fire anyone even people that clearly deserve it.
So you’re not a UAW member and really have no idea about the internal hiring process at GM. No more than me anyways… I do know you can be employed as a temporary employee through GM though, it doesn’t have to be through a contracted company and I’m not even sure they contract out temp hiring.
Hopefully you do understand that it’s important to give a clear path to hiring full time employees. I’m sure lots of companies love to hire temps and underpay them and let them go. It’s probably really good for their bottom line… That’s not always the best way to ensure unified work environment and quality product though.
Kind of off topic, just been everywhere looking for an answer. I put an order in for a 2021 Colorado two weeks ago. Dealer told me 8 weeks which puts it at October. But I’m getting snippets of it on the net being more like December. Any hard evidence thoughts?
I am by no means an expert but is the launch usually in October… If you’re getting a custom ordered vehicle I wouldn’t expect it to come for up to a few months after the launch. Another question is if it delivers after January 2nd 2021 could it technically be called a 2022? Anyways congrats on the new truck.
Model years don’t work that way. We usually changeover in early 2nd quarter. June or July, usually around July 4th as the UAW has a long negotiated holiday so the shop can shut down and retool for model changes. Covid messed everything up.
Jim the change over was set to be early this year due to the refresh. But it was delayed till late June26. The Gas trucks were started then Some are at dealers now as I have seen three. One GMC and two Colorado’s.
The Diesel orders opened on July 15 but I don’t know if they have started their production.
From what guys on the forum are saying 6-8 weeks is average what they are being told.
So build times really are normal even with the delay with late a June early July start up.
21 models will be built till June of 21 like normal unless the virus comes back.
Unless you have a Diesel or some option that is delayed you should see it before a December.
Good to know, thanks for the scoop!
2021 [model year] Colorado’s and Canyons started production on June 26. 2020.
Hard to say, I know we’ve been behind because of the shutdown from Covid, but we are running full steam ahead and pumping them out as fast as we can. I’d say your dealer would have the most up to date info, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a delay. Thank you for your order, I love these trucks and I am sure you will too.
This news is boring as something more interesting is that Chevrolet begins their second production shift for the C8 Corvette which means Chevrolet will be able to build more C8 Corvette for sale in the next 6 months unless there is some type of issue or COVID-19 strikes again.
Your truck’s build date could be determined by option content. The most loaded up trucks usually go out first. If model changeover is scheduled for October, then I’d expect a sold truck to run down the line in October.
All AutoMarker operating in the USA should have UAW especially Toyota Texas who grossly underpaid and over working employees. That’s how Toyota has grown so much in America and try to pass the company off as a American maker by racing in NASCAR and NHRA the only Import maker to do so. American AutoMaker they will never be FIAT is closer to being so due to buying Dodge
Congratulations! Good luck to all of you!!