GM to cut second shift at Pontiac Truck in May

[WalterBellhaven]

From the Detroit Free Press:

GM to cut second shift at Pontiac Truck in May

Shrinking demand for full-size vehicles cited

October 19, 2007
BY ALEJANDRO BODIPO-MEMBA
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

General Motors Corp. said it will stop production of its second shift at the Pontiac Truck plant, due to shrinking market demand for full-size pickup trucks

Article continues at link:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...&Ref=AR&Show=0

[Avdude]

So much for no job losses or reductions for the life of the agreement... Is the ink dry yet???? I wonder how this plant voted in the latest ratification.... I am sure this was just deicided today as GM would never mislead the union to get a deal in negotiations.. How may more of these announcements will be made before peolple realize that promises about production levels made during negotiations mean NOTHING!!!!

[A.J.]

Hmmm. So that would explain why my local Chevrolet dealer has upwards of twenty 2007/08 Silverados on their lot right now...once again, dealers threw too many trucks on the lots, and now the demand is shrinking even more...

[WishIhadatruck]

Originally Posted by Avdude

So much for no job losses or reductions for the life of the agreement... Is the ink dry yet???? I wonder how this plant voted in the latest ratification.... I am sure this was just deicided today as GM would never mislead the union to get a deal in negotiations.. How may more of these announcements will be made before peolple realize that promises about production levels made during negotiations mean NOTHING!!!!

Was that shift at that plant promised their jobs? The latest agreement actually made it clear some entire plants would close (stamping plants come to mind) if I recall correctly. I haven't read the entire agreement and don't know so I'm asking. Unfortunately you can't have people making cars that won't be sold. Piling them up in huge parking lots does nothing for the company, look at Chrysler as an example. You need to be able to sell the cars you make. GM's full size trucks are incredibly competitive so for once we can't blame it on an uncompetitive product either.

[Havasavana]

The sales numbers for this month will be even more interesting than usual. The Toyota truck numbers even more so.

[likearock00]

Why don't they just idle the Mexican plant and leave the rest of the plants alone?

[Kennyboy]

Originally Posted by likearock00

Why don't they just idle the Mexican plant and leave the rest of the plants alone?

Because the Mexican plants produce what consumers want. Escalade EXT and trucks are in great demand right now.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by likearock00

Why don't they just idle the Mexican plant and leave the rest of the plants alone?

GM is pulling out of Pontiac "Truck and Bus" that entire complex will be closed.

This has been a known fact for years now. GM also just moved all the office people out in the last year from the rest of the complex.

GM is going to go down to 4 major office locations in Metro Detroit. Milford Proving Grounds, Pontiac Powertrain (Josyln and Montcalm), Warren Technology Ceter, and Headquarters in the Renissance Center.

Centerpoint Campus where Truck and Bus is located will be 100% shuttered (well much of it will be sold or leased out to others).

[steverino]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

GM is pulling out of Pontiac "Truck and Bus" that entire complex will be closed.

This has been a known fact for years now. GM also just moved all the office people out in the last year from the rest of the complex.

GM is going to go down to 4 major office locations in Metro Detroit. Milford Proving Grounds, Pontiac Powertrain (Josyln and Montcalm), Warren Technology Ceter, and Headquarters in the Renissance Center.

Centerpoint Campus where Truck and Bus is located will be 100% shuttered (well much of it will be sold or leased out to others).

Wow, where did you hear that one. I thought Centerpoint campus was supposed to be the Truck technology center, much like Warren is too automobiles. Go figure.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by steverino

Wow, where did you hear that one. I thought Centerpoint campus was supposed to be the Truck technology center, much like Warren is too automobiles. Go figure.

A family friend works for EDS and his office is moving to Centerpoint, they are taking most of what used to be GM.

Also a few of the inlaws (Uncle's Wife's Family) worked there and where talking about how old friends got transfered to Warren or HQ. That was last Christmas

[bluecon]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

GM is pulling out of Pontiac "Truck and Bus" that entire complex will be closed.

This has been a known fact for years now. GM also just moved all the office people out in the last year from the rest of the complex.

GM is going to go down to 4 major office locations in Metro Detroit. Milford Proving Grounds, Pontiac Powertrain (Josyln and Montcalm), Warren Technology Ceter, and Headquarters in the Renissance Center.

Centerpoint Campus where Truck and Bus is located will be 100% shuttered (well much of it will be sold or leased out to others).

They have at least one plant too many.
Wasn't this plant guaranteed in the contract?
They are not going to close Silao, Mexico so either Pontiac or Oshawa is going to close. Oshawa is in big trouble if Pontiac is guaranteed a new product and I believe they are.

[Avdude]

Originally Posted by bluecon

They have at least one plant too many.
Wasn't this plant guaranteed in the contract?
They are not going to close Silao, Mexico so either Pontiac or Oshawa is going to close. Oshawa is in big trouble if Pontiac is guaranteed a new product and I believe they are.

Like i said in my post above you can't trust what GM sells in a negotiation.. lol .. Having said that .. you are correct.. Those of us here in the shwa who don't have our heads burried in the sand can see the writing on the wall.. and it looks like this .. when Oshawa truck changed over to the 900 GM did next to nothing to convert the plant.. the body shop was twinned some time ago so it was just a matter of rerouting the line to hook up to the 900 equipted body shop! Other things that needed to be changed were minor and this was all acomplished in about 2 weeks.. The paint shop is ancient and needs to be replaced and will never see another model in my opinion.. Now here is the multimilion $ question .. There is a unused new paint shop sitting across the road. It is a twinned building that only uses half of it's capasity(Car plant uses one half now)! Oshawa truck's only hope for future product is if they can come up with a business plan that includes using this paint shop.. With the rising $ and not being able to get local/state subsidies to entice the General I'm afraid the days of Oshawa truck are numbered! It's probably to expensive with the $ now to deliver the quality and productivity awards up here anyway ..

[Terraza]

I spent 2.5 yrs at the shwa! IMM. You're forgetting one thing about all what is happening. SHELF AGREEMENT. Truck Plant will have a future. Give it time.

[Coloradokid]

The one thing that we may be missing here is that Local 22 (Hamtramck), Local 652 (Delta), and Local 594 (Pontiac) have a very senior workforce. My estimation is that GM will lay the people off, hope that many take buyouts, and reinstate the second shifts at a later date with the new hires making half wages. I think that it is all the Big Three's goal to get the over 30 year employees off the roles ASAP.

[NfamousZ24]

Yes the Workforce that have the time to retire need to retire. I am sorry you didn't make the right money decisions, Divorced 5 time, Paying for your adult kids.

I see this with old timmers at Moraine Assembly especially with people over 35 years. They say they can't afford retirement. When you do the math if you work a 40 hour week, You only make an extra $3 an hour working more than being retired. They are staying for the OT. What they need to do is retire and work a job where they need you more than you need them. Make that minimum wage 20+ hours a week and enjoy the rest of your short life.

My Father is one of those that are hopping for a 25year and out. Even though he still has a crap load of bills. He can still live off of a full retirement, And have a part time job as play money.