Flint Truck Assembly Plant's Battle

[Ming]

Flint Truck Assembly Plant's battle reflects industry, societial struggles
by Flint Journal Editorial Board
February 21, 2009



The Detroit Three automakers' survival plan, as hashed out with the UAW last week, greatly mirrors concessions being asked locally of General Motors' Flint Truck Assembly Plant. The plight of U.S. manufacturing is so fragile that survival is not just the driving issue, but the only issue, and Truck Assembly is very much caught up in that crisis.

It almost goes without saying that the plant's employees must give more than 100 percent effort, as surely they know better than anyone. But even with that, workers are asked to accept job cuts and work rule changes as UAW Local 598 negotiates a contract per GM's demand to make the plant more competitive.

Yet, details of the plan the Detroit companies turned in to President Barack Obama last week do not sound as draconian as might have been expected, especially if they result in federal loans that spare auto companies from bankruptcies.

It appears base pay is to remain intact for the union workers, but with less overtime, new work rules presumably designed to enhance productivity, cuts in lump-sum cash bonuses and the elimination of cost-of-living pay raises -- all of that to reduce the companies' legendary labor costs. That goal would be furthered by cutting 50,000 more jobs worldwide -- 20,000 of them in the United States. Laid-off workers stand to receive less supplemental pay while they collect unemployment.

The fate of Truck Assembly, huge as it looms for the Flint area, is really a microcosm of a crisis of unimaginable proportions that in a worst-case scenario could flatten the economy for many years and rule out auto purchases for most would-be buyers. Whatever happens at Truck Assembly is apt to be a harbinger of the industry as a whole.

FULL Editorial

[smithrobs]

My hometown.

This is the same plant that assembles the Medium Duty line that Navistar, then Isuzu, then Navistar again; showed interest in. They also assemble Crew Cab HD pick ups. The last vehicle assembly plant left in the birth place of GM; what a shame.

[tomcat_cool17]

I drive by there atleast 6 times a week. Hopefully the can figure something out that doesn't leave it vacant eventually.

[jamiepeterson2]

Here is an interesting tidbit that may be related. Hope for the hopeless??

Seems to make a lot of sense to use available space rather than starting from scratch.

GM to build new small engine in existing factory

DETROIT (AP) -- General Motors Corp. says it is scrapping plans to build a factory in Flint, Mich., that would make engines for the Chevrolet Volt. But it will produce the engines at an existing plant in the same city.

GM announced in September that it would invest $370 million in a new 522,000-square-foot factory. It was to be built near the Flint South Engine plant about 50 miles north of Detroit.

But GM said Tuesday that it will be cheaper to use vacant space within the Flint South plant. It says it will invest $250 million to make the new engines there.

The new factory was to create 300 new jobs building a 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine for the Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car and the Chevrolet Cruze compact. Both are due in showrooms next year.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/GM-to-...-14454867.html

[C/K Man]

I think the Flint South facility is an engine plant, and Flint assembly is where the trucks are built.

[member12]

Didn't they strike a few years ago?


Either way, if it's not going to be in Flint, then hopefully Navistar will at least have an American factory. They can't tell me that there's not enough margin for a massive truck like what Navistar and GMC Medium Duty build for an automated American factory.

[Highlander]

Sad times. I hope they survive and thrive. I believe this is where my CC LB 2500HD LT was built.... and built well.

[ZZ71]

Flint Truck Assembly
Plant Summary
G-3100 Van Slyke Road
Flint, MI 48551

Division: Vehicle Manufacturing
Hourly: 2,931
Salaried: 266
Year Opened: 1947
Plant Size (sq. ft.): 3,700,000
Union Local: UAW 598

Production

Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab
GMC Sierra Crew Cab
GMC Topkick
Chevrolet Kodiak
1,243 Isuzu T-Series

[Highlander]

Where else do they build the Crew Cab pick ups? Seems a bit odd that only the crew cab versions are built here? I wonder what the reasoning is for other cab configs not being built here or why these crew cabs aren't solely built at another GMT-900 facility???

[Coloradokid]

Originally Posted by Highlander

Where else do they build the Crew Cab pick ups? Seems a bit odd that only the crew cab versions are built here? I wonder what the reasoning is for other cab configs not being built here or why these crew cabs aren't solely built at another GMT-900 facility???

They build the crew cab 1500s in Oshawa. Unfortunately, that work is tentatively being moved to Mexico.

[akenaten]

That's where my truck was born. I was really surprised and pleased when I found out my truck was built there. Truly american made.
I hope they can keep it open.