24 September 2009
GM will restore 3,000 jobs
Some good news out of Detroit: General Motors Co plans to restore about 3,000 jobs at U.S. assembly plants and related facilities and is getting set to raise North American production by up to 45% next year.
GM said it would add shifts at three U.S. assembly plants, as the automaker consolidates production from plants that are closing or retooling. GM said it also expects to restore 600 jobs at related facilities that produce engines, transmissions, stampings, and castings.
As a result of this move, GM expects to increase North American production to about 2.8 million vehicles in 2010, up about 40% to 45% from 2009.
The addition of shifts at plants in Kansas, Indiana, and Michigan comes at a time when U.S. auto industry sales are as low as they could go and manufacturers are raising production to restore depleted vehicle inventories.
GM said it would add a shift at its assembly plant in Fairfax, Kans., in January. Fairfax will become the sole builder of the Chevrolet Malibu sedan when GM ends production in Orion, Mich., to retool that plant for a new small car.
In April, GM plans to add a shift of heavy-duty pickup production in Fort Wayne, Ind. The company is closing its Pontiac, Mich., plant at the end of September.
GM also plans to add production of the Chevrolet Traverse SUV at its Lansing Delta Township, Mich., plant in April. Production of the Traverse at GM’s plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., will end in November, and that plant will go on standby status.
GM will draw from its pool of laid off workers first to fill the positions.
For related information, go to www.isa.org/productivity.
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