GM has issued a statement regarding an incident earlier this week in which a car hit UAW members picketing outside the GM Flint Processing Center in Michigan. GM has stated that the suspected individual behind the wheel of the car, as well as two other individuals inside the car, are banned from entering any GM property. The UAW expanded its strike to include the GM Flint Processing Center last week.
According to initial reports, the incident occurred around 4 p.m. outside the GM Flint Processing Center on 6060 West Bristol Road in Swartz Creek. The vehicle in question, a dark-colored Chevy HHR, drove through a group of protesters blocking an exit on West Bristol Road, hitting five people in the process. The driver then fled east down W. Bristol Road.
Four of the protesters hit suffered minor injuries, while one of the individuals was taken to the hospital.
Now, according to a report from local CBS-affiliate WNEM, GM has issued a statement addressing the incident. According to GM spokesperson David Barnas, the car involved was suspected to have been driven by a third-party housekeeping contractor employed by Malace. The contractor is suspected of hitting UAW demonstrators while attempting to leave the processing center after performing normal sanitation duties during a normal shift. The individual behind the wheel, as well as two other Malace employees in the car, have been banned from entering any GM property.
Barnas added that GM has “conducted safety talks at all GM facilities with active picketing activity to reinforce the expectation and requirement that any employees who experience picketers blockading entry or exit to our property contact site security to help them safely proceed past the picketing employees.” Barnas also said that the latest reinforcement talks are in addition to picketing safety talks already completed among all GM salaried and contract employees.
The GM Flint Processing Center in Michigan was among 38 parts distribution facilities targeted by the UAW in last week’s strike expansion against GM and Stellantis. The union is currently striking against all three of the Big Detroit automakers.
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Don't block exits, and stay off the streets, then you won't get hit by moving vehicles. I learned that when I was 3.
Don’t know much about picket lines huh.
Bob P - Do it on the side walk. You probably feel bad for those morons who protest Oil and sit in the middle of the roadway and get hit.
Cameras ?
Nonez cause I'm guessing they went through the crowd at 2mph, and "bumped" those five employees and the one who went to the hospital probably stuck their foot out and had their foot ran over. AKA, they can return to work after an X-ray confirming there's no broken bones, which with an HHR, is guaranteed. Politics of working with the UAW is disgusting.
Steven -
IN general you are guessing wrong.. A few decades ago a Scab worker at the local telephone company hit a Union Stewart going 20 mph and killed him.
In general - all these comments blindly supporting GM management basically makes me a bit sick. In the past twelve years I have spent a few hundred thousand dollars on GM products. I don't like it when people are hurt performing legitimate activities...
The fact that the UAW is asking for an end to High Schooler McDonald's type wages I do not have a problem with... The most inefficient low value employee used to be Johan De Nysschen who wasted $Millions moving Cadillac to NYC and then, after he was fired, to be moved back to the Detroit Area. He is the genius who discontinued the Caddy ELR plug-in after only 11 months of manufacture (8 in 2014, 3 in 2016) who said 'Electric Cars are DUMB. People should drive Diesels. '
Seeing as he came from VW - ask VW about how the $Billion they lost with the Diesel Scandal was so profitable.
Mary Barra seems to be the most uneconomic lately - but both horrid people constantly discontinue profitable or near-profitable models well before the public tires of them. For instance, with all the push for electrics, these 2 have discontinued more plug-in cars than they currently make. In the ICE world the Impala was a great car, and with a bit of tweaking it should still be sold today. But anything coming from her mouth sounds as if it could be generated by any Chat Bot. Dead 12 volt batteries in several ICE and battery-electric models reeks of Managerial Incompetence. Not to mention silly infotainment problems for years that have never been addressed and should have been engineered out before the first one was ever manufactured.
I disagree with the 32 hours for 40 hours of pay proposal, but it is clearly just a bargaining chip during negotiation.. As far as Biden showing up for 12 minutes on a picket line, Fain has wanted neither appearances from Biden nor Trump to interfere with important negotiations.
Highschooler or McDonald’s grade pay are you kidding me? Have you had your blinders on these people definitely make more than that and what they’re asking for put their pay wages definitely above those of police, firefighters, nurses, and all this to put one piece on a moving assembly line. You have got to be freaking kidding me.!!!!!!
I believe they’re probably talking about pay for two tier system, it’s not fair for any of the workers especially the lower tier workers…
There's no such thing as "near-profitable". It's either profitable or unprofitable. If it's unprofitable, it should be shut down immediately.
Bill: No offense, but you know little about the car business...
Toyota, the World's most profitable car maker, nursed the Toyota Prius during its extended 'near profitable' time to eventually make plenty of money overall for the model.
Toyota does not come up with new models very often, but when they do, they stick with them until they are core profit makers for the company.
To me, the fact that many former GM mechanics I have talked to have traded in their Silverados and Sierras for the TOYOTA pick ups, is a BIG EYE OPENER...
I asked, What is the downside of Toyota Products? Most common answer : Gas mileage not quite as good as GM or FORD.
What is the upside per them? "I got tired of replacing sensors". This was before all the 12 volt battery and infotainment troubles...
Other general comments; "The Truck works like an old-time truck.... Just very reliable."
I don't know who need to know this but it's not legal to hit people with your car. Under the punishment for blocking an exit is not death.
In most states now, it's perfectly legal when protestors are blocking the road. It's also very illegal to block the road, so why aren't they hauling in strikers when they block? Point of a strike is to keep businesses honest, not lock down and hold the business hostage.
Yes, I'm biased against the UAW, because currently GM workers make more than Ford/Toyota/Kia/and VW. Where is their gratitude for having such a privilege? Non-existent. Not really sympathetic for whinneis.
No it’s not. In any state. You can’t run over someone unless it’s self defense. I seriously doubt this persons safety was threatened. Wild.
Once the video footage is released to the public you will most likely change your mind on that. Sounds like the strikers were all over this persons vehicle.
It should be if a mob is trying to intimidate and impede. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
In most Midwest states, thanks to what Antifa has done over the last few years, if you are blocking the road intentionally, motorist can now legally run you over and you are held liable as you were intentionally blocking traffic when you shouldn't have. Yes, as a normal pedestrian, you have the law on your side. A hack trying to stop traffic to get your point across???? I hope you got good life insurance
Each company negotiated their own contract, so why come down on GM workers?
It's not without irony that the contracted housekeeping company is called "Malace"
How about banning the morons blocking the driveways?
The incident was staged to grow sympathy for UAW cause and to get more media time.
Wfd2:
As far as Scab workers go, Unions will in general picket around the vehicle one time around and then let the car through. Even though they are taking away union jobs for the time being, they will act respectfully if the car driver does the same. Those on strike will not attack the vehicle nor the driver as such actions are violations against private property, and assault, respectively.
Actually they’re being very civil about it, back in the 50’s, 60s, 70s, and 80s a person doing something as stupid as crossing a picket line you could get some serious damage to you and your vehicle. The unions have toned it down a lot over the last 50 years.
Both parties are wrong. Picket lines are not supposed to block entrance/exit. You also can't run over the illegal picketers. Where is gm's security people? Nobody wins in a strike.
You don't run over people with a car on purpose ever. If there isn't a union, you wouldn't be able to refuse unsafe work without losing your job, you wouldn't have a 40 hr work week . Alot of holidays were fought ( bargain ) for .Unruly forman you can put in a grievance ,people have a wright to be treated with respect. Workers pay union dues , workers have collected bargain for over 70 years . We are human ,we are brothers and sisters and we work very hard ,we have pride in our work . Together we can accomplish great things . Humanity with humility is a beautiful thing.Nobody wants to strike, it is a democratic wright. Peace out
Well said, Mr. T! Thank you
They had a job to go to and families to feed. I’d plow thru anyone trying to stop that. If you’re unsatisfied with your job, get a new one.