[NfamousZ24]

The last evening production shift at the Stroop Road plant was Sept. 12. The plant operates by a seniority system, with more senior second-shift workers in some cases displacing less senior first-shift workers. For the 400 to 500 workers displaced, Friday was the last day.

Meanwhile, the final date for all remaining workers is approaching, a union leader said, although he would not reveal that date.

GM in June said the plant will close by 2010. Harry Bogan, a regional director for the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communication Workers of America — which represents the plant's hourly workers — said last week he expected a precise closing date from GM by month's end.

On Friday, Bogan said he has the date, but he could not announce it publicly. He said he hopes to be able to reveal the date by next week.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/b/content/oh/story/business/2008/09/27/ddn092608gmweb.html

 

[NfamousZ24]

I was one of the people laid off.

 

[lightbrotha2004]

Sorry to hear that...my uncle was also let go...my aunt bumped someone out and i got a host of other family that i haven't heard from to see what has happened.

 

[plane]

I was one of the people laid off.

I am sorry to hear that.
You've always put forward good posts at GMI.
Our thoughts are with you.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

I was one of the people laid off.

Oh no!

Really sucks man. What are you going to do now? Last I heard, Sharonville SPO was hiring...

 

[jzchev28]

yeah that does stink..... i make deliveries to the morain plant, it will be one less customer for us when they close. it will have a trickle effect that is for sure and its too bad because the dayton area is strugleing to begin with.

 

[peterj2706]

Sorry to hear this. Hope you all find a new job - Good Luck!

 

[paul8488]

Gee that's too bad man. Best of luck finding something else. Any other nearby GM plants you could go to, or are none of them taking on new workers right now?

 

[stevecmh]

sad to see i happen.. i still think the Saab was the best looking out of the bunch

 

[Millefune]

It makes me wonder... do GM employees buy GM cars? When I went to my local BPG dealer, one of the "sales managers" rolled up in a BMW. I don't understand why the American people can't see what buying imports (which don't have any more reliability than domestics nowadays) is doing for our home economy and fellow Americans.

 

[member12]

Sorry to hear this.

This factory was massive, if it's the one that I remember seeing up there.

It's so frustrating how GM can abandon models like the CSVs and the T360s (and now the T355s) and expect us to believe that they can't compete. They don't even try in some cases. The Trailblazer and Envoy don't even need a ground up redesign. They need new interior/exterior styling and the new 6 speed auto that GM is putting in all it's products. They have a great chassis for a new minivan, but like the T360s, they'd rather give that market to Toyota and Nissan and not even bother putting up any effort.

This model was (and to some extent, still is) amazingly popular for General Motors. I can't believe that they would abandon it so easily.

 

[CamaroCrazy]

It makes me wonder... do GM employees buy GM cars? When I went to my local BPG dealer, one of the "sales managers" rolled up in a BMW. I don't understand why the American people can't see what buying imports (which don't have any more reliability than domestics nowadays) is doing for our home economy and fellow Americans.

Let's make a distinction between dealers and GM factory workers. Dealers and salesmen can be like nomads. Selling one brand one month, another brand the next, moving from dealer to dealer or within a dealer network. These guys know how to sell cars, and a fair amount of them have no loyalty to any one brand. I used to work at a dealership and I saw it all the time. A bigger issue is when a GM employee doesn't drive a GM car. A former neighbor of mine worked at an American Axle plant and let his wife buy a Camry, trading in a Chevy that he built the axle for. Why? She liked the Camry better so he let her buy it. Later, he became of those let go by AA as part of a downsizing plan because why? GM losing sales to foreign competition. He helped make the bed he's laying in now. That situation is a problem.

Sorry to hear this.

This factory was massive, if it's the one that I remember seeing up there.

It's so frustrating how GM can abandon models like the CSVs and the T360s (and now the T355s) and expect us to believe that they can't compete. They don't even try in some cases. The Trailblazer and Envoy don't even need a ground up redesign. They need new interior/exterior styling and the new 6 speed auto that GM is putting in all it's products. They have a great chassis for a new minivan, but like the T360s, they'd rather give that market to Toyota and Nissan and not even bother putting up any effort.

This model was (and to some extent, still is) amazingly popular for General Motors. I can't believe that they would abandon it so easily.

I would have liked to see GM keep some kind of body on frame, traditional mids-size SUV for maybe GMC. Hummer has the H3 but that brand might be on the outs. The market is moving towards more car-based crossovers because 90% of those who bought Explorers and Trailblazers probably didn't need that rugged of a vehicle to play carpool and grocery getter. Even Toyota is killing the FJ and Ford is switching to unibody for the next Explorer. I see this as the market settling out and the suburban cowboys are buying vehicles more in line with their needs. So be it, I'm just glad GM has something else to offer people in this market shift.

 

[member12]

I would have liked to see GM keep some kind of body on frame, traditional mids-size SUV for maybe GMC. Hummer has the H3 but that brand might be on the outs. The market is moving towards more car-based crossovers because 90% of those who bought Explorers and Trailblazers probably didn't need that rugged of a vehicle to play carpool and grocery getter. Even Toyota is killing the FJ and Ford is switching to unibody for the next Explorer. I see this as the market settling out and the suburban cowboys are buying vehicles more in line with their needs. So be it, I'm just glad GM has something else to offer people in this market shift.

Without the H3 (or Hummer), there is a gap in the lineup for some kind of off road capable truck.

As much as I hear that there will be a new world market Blazer, it's very likely just to be based on whatever the Colorado/Canyon is running....so it's probably not going to Moraine.

True, 90% of those buyers never went off road, but they still bought Trailblazers. They can't only build crossovers...because there won't be any decent SUV for those of us who really want or need an SUV. Who do we go to? Toyota, Nissan, and Jeep are all that's left if Hummer shuts down.

 

[CamaroCrazy]

Without the H3 (or Hummer), there is a gap in the lineup for some kind of off road capable truck.

As much as I hear that there will be a new world market Blazer, it's very likely just to be based on whatever the Colorado/Canyon is running....so it's probably not going to Moraine.

True, 90% of those buyers never went off road, but they still bought Trailblazers. They can't only build crossovers...because there won't be any decent SUV for those of us who really want or need an SUV. Who do we go to? Toyota, Nissan, and Jeep are all that's left if Hummer shuts down.

Yeah, absolutely there will be a gap. If the H3 fades away if the brand gets sold or if there is some excess capacity at Shreveport, I sure hope GM is considering doing Canyon-based SUV for GMC for the Colorado/Canyon redesign. I also hope GM realizes that the demand for their full-size trucks can be satisfied with the 355's in a market that wants better fuel economy or isn't as keen to buy full size trucks anymore. I don't know what the sentiment is on the 355 platform, but I think they could carry it over, do a sheetmetal redesign, and please, PLEASE put a better interior in those trucks. Good lord is the interior bad. I hope GM doesn't let this niche slip away all together.

 

[CadiEldo67]

Hopefully GM does see a need for BOF trucks. Its not like there is going to be much competition and let just hope this is a hiatus for the T360. IMO, one of the best options would be to use the T360 for both a Trailblazer/Envoy and a Colorado/Canyon. That way, the 4.2 Inline six could still be used, or they could use the 3.6 DI V6, or which even engine they choose, there would be no need for a 5 banger that is nice, but its an unnecessary variant in a cost cutting time period.

 

[GM-Joe]

My guess is the Colorado/Canyon will get a Blazer-esque model in a couple of years, probably similar to the H3. It sucks that Dayton will get pummeled by this shutdown, but I felt the TB/Envoy were getting too close in size to the Tahoe, which is not doing well, either. Hopefully, once the economy comes back in a couple of years, there will be pent-up demand for GM vehicles and the plant in Morraine can see a new product with a bright future; it has happened before, such as Dover.

 

[Millefune]

Let's make a distinction between dealers and GM factory workers. Dealers and salesmen can be like nomads. Selling one brand one month, another brand the next, moving from dealer to dealer or within a dealer network. These guys know how to sell cars, and a fair amount of them have no loyalty to any one brand. I used to work at a dealership and I saw it all the time. A bigger issue is when a GM employee doesn't drive a GM car. A former neighbor of mine worked at an American Axle plant and let his wife buy a Camry, trading in a Chevy that he built the axle for. Why? She liked the Camry better so he let her buy it. Later, he became of those let go by AA as part of a downsizing plan because why? GM losing sales to foreign competition. He helped make the bed he's laying in now. That situation is a problem.

Thank you for clarifying the salesman part for me. As for the other part, that's what I'm saying. I truly hope that GM workers aren't spending money on imports, because if they are, they're helping themselves lose their jobs.

 

[Joe in T.O.]

I am very sorry to hear you guys being let go. I do have a 2002 Trailblazer LT 2WD that I enjoy very much. I did look at the H3 as a possible replacement - I like the fact it has a manual transmission but it is too narrow for my 3 kids in the back. I wouldn't by the Traverse because it is front wheel drive so I may buy another Trailblazer - possibly SS...

 

[member12]

Hopefully GM does see a need for BOF trucks. Its not like there is going to be much competition and let just hope this is a hiatus for the T360. IMO, one of the best options would be to use the T360 for both a Trailblazer/Envoy and a Colorado/Canyon. That way, the 4.2 Inline six could still be used, or they could use the 3.6 DI V6, or which even engine they choose, there would be no need for a 5 banger that is nice, but its an unnecessary variant in a cost cutting time period.

Since everyone hates the 4.2L for some reason, I could see them using a 3.9 or 4.0L version of the 3.6L with an iron block for the base engine in the full sized trucks and the main engine in the mid sized trucks.

 

[Joe in T.O.]

I don't think everyone hates the 4.2L engine. It is extremely strong. I personally never heard anybody say anything negative about it.