The GM Bowling Green Assembly plant, which serves as the exclusive production facility for the mid-engine C8 Corvette, is currently at the center of a labor dispute that may result in the release of 25 part-time temporary workers. The issue stems from a disagreement between General Motors and local United Auto Workers (UAW) union leadership regarding the employees’ job status. While GM aims to keep the workers on as part-time temps, local union leaders are moving to make the workers either full-time temps, or permanent employees.
According to a report from Detroit Free Press, the Chairman of UAW Local 2164, Jason Watson, is encouraging GM to promote the 25 part-time workers to full-time positions, citing available full-time roles at the plant. Watson argues that the 25 workers are critical to keep the plant running, especially in light of production needs for the 2025 Corvette ZR1. The Bowling Green facility currently employs some 1,458 workers.
General Motors maintains that it is following the terms outlined in the national UAW contract, and that without an agreement with the UAW, they are required to release the 25 temporary workers. Nevertheless, Watson asserts that the plant is already understaffed and that losing the workers could negatively impact the launch of the upcoming Corvette ZR1.
Despite the need for additional labor, General Motors has reportedly issued letters to the workers stating that were released from the company after the end of their shift last Friday.
As covered previously, 250 workers at the GM Fort Wayne plant in Indiana are currently facing a similar situation, with General Motors stating that it has been unable to reach an agreement with the UAW over the status of workers. The Fort Wayne facility produces the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 light-duty pickups.
Negotiations between GM and the UAW have been ongoing since late August. While Watson agreed that the national UAW agreement enables General Motors to staff its production facilities as the automaker deems necessary, the UAW leader states that “[GM is] basically wanting to strong-arm the members and the local unions and wanting to hold these part-timers in part-time status.”
Comments
That’s rich- the UAW guy is promoting the need for 25 temps – the workers who are likely among the least experienced to be kept employed to assemble the most expensive Vette ever.
GM definitely needs to cut Corvette production to keep resale values up. New Corvette’s are starting to stack up and prices are tumbling.
ill take your comment as satire because it has to be. so sure i agree. fire everybody, make 1 corvette a year and sell it for 3million. somebody will buy it. in fact, somebody will prepay order it!
now do the same with everything else.
thats how you run a company apparently.
mad profits!
I completely agree. I recently visited my dealership to check the status of my 2025 E-Ray order. They had ten 2024 C8s sitting on the lot, and the dealer mentioned they were offering $6,000 off the MSRP but still struggling to sell them. He also pointed out that they’re producing too many C8s and not enough Z06s and E-Rays.
I agree with you. Corvettes are stacking up at dealerships. The last time I checked. They were 35 Stingrays at Rick Hendricks Chevrolet in Duluth with significant discounts. Local dealerships in California have several Corvettes on the lots.
They make good money on each.
What do you consider “good money” ?
I am glad that these 2 representatives of the UAW in Bowling Green and also Fort Wayne are taking the position to make these temporary employees permanent. Until the 2019 agreement GM could keep temporary employees as Temporary Status with no end in sight. This meant lower pay, lower benefits, no profit sharing and no seniority! Gm can afford to make these employees permanent. They don’t hesitate to reward the Board of Directors Mary makes sure they are compensated!
Well, GM has not usually ever been too bright at operatons; as per this example. Go figure.
Kamala Harris must be telling Mary Barra how to run GM. When will GM pay the U S taxpayers back for the loan they took out years ago?
Paid back years ago.