Lordstown may get Volt production?

[Flybrian]

GM Lordstown future vague as strike looms

Saturday, September 15, 2007 3:37 AM | By M.R. Kropko | Link to Original Article @ Columbus Dispatch

CLEVELAND -- General Motors Lordstown workers faced a possible strike yesterday, just as they have been trying to urge the company to commit to producing a new car model that would keep the northeastern Ohio plant operating past 2009.

The workers were among those at plants across the country preparing to strike as a midnight deadline loomed in contract negotiations between General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers.

"We are preparing ourselves for a strike (tonight), in the event things don't work out up in Detroit," Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112 at GM Lordstown, said yesterday. "We're ready."

The UAW represents about 2,400 workers at the Lordstown assembly plant, about 40 miles southeast of Cleveland. The union also represents about 1,200 at an adjacent fabricating plant and about 500 in nearby feeder plants, Graham said. Local 1112 covers the assembly workers.

"We're not making any more comments until we find out what's happening," Graham said.

Lordstown union leaders separately have been negotiating local issues at the plant with management and hoping that union bargainers in Detroit can win the plant a commitment from GM regarding a new car model.

The GM Lordstown products are the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 small cars, but those are expected go out of production after the 2009 model year.

Last year, GM ended an overnight shift at its Lordstown car-assembly plant but increased production on its other two shifts. About five years ago, GM made a $500 million renovation at the assembly plant and about $50 million worth of improvements for the metal-fabricating plant.

Michael Chaffee, mayor of Lordstown, a village of about 3,800, said yesterday there have been rumors GM Lordstown might land the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid vehicle powered by electricity and gas.

Lordstown workers know they must strike, if that's their union's intent, Chaffee said.

"What choice do they have? They are not going to not strike when everybody else in the country is striking," he said.

[Oracle of Delphi]

GM Lordstown future vague as strike looms

Saturday, September 15, 2007 3:37 AM | By M.R. Kropko | Link to Original Article @ Columbus Dispatch

CLEVELAND -- General Motors Lordstown workers faced a possible strike yesterday, just as they have been trying to urge the company to commit to producing a new car model that would keep the northeastern Ohio plant operating past 2009.

The workers were among those at plants across the country preparing to strike as a midnight deadline loomed in contract negotiations between General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers.

"We are preparing ourselves for a strike (tonight), in the event things don't work out up in Detroit," Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112 at GM Lordstown, said yesterday. "We're ready."

The UAW represents about 2,400 workers at the Lordstown assembly plant, about 40 miles southeast of Cleveland. The union also represents about 1,200 at an adjacent fabricating plant and about 500 in nearby feeder plants, Graham said. Local 1112 covers the assembly workers.

"We're not making any more comments until we find out what's happening," Graham said.

Lordstown union leaders separately have been negotiating local issues at the plant with management and hoping that union bargainers in Detroit can win the plant a commitment from GM regarding a new car model.

The GM Lordstown products are the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 small cars, but those are expected go out of production after the 2009 model year.

Last year, GM ended an overnight shift at its Lordstown car-assembly plant but increased production on its other two shifts. About five years ago, GM made a $500 million renovation at the assembly plant and about $50 million worth of improvements for the metal-fabricating plant.

Michael Chaffee, mayor of Lordstown, a village of about 3,800, said yesterday there have been rumors GM Lordstown might land the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid vehicle powered by electricity and gas.

Lordstown workers know they must strike, if that's their union's intent, Chaffee said.

"What choice do they have? They are not going to not strike when everybody else in the country is striking," he said.

If I were the mayor, I would suggest he wait until all the votes are counted!

[Drew Dowdell]

Where is Delta going if it's not in Lordstown?

[Oracle of Delphi]

Where is Delta going if it's not in Lordstown?

Mexico!

[the_yellow_dart]

So it's possible that the next car I buy will also be from Lordstown. Interesting. So far the only new GMs I've bought have come from there.

[BuddyP]

Mexico!

Mexi-NO!

[AAS]

Mexi-NO!

Why not? It would still be made in America, by Americans...

[Oracle of Delphi]

Why not? It would still be made in America, by Americans...

I don't have a problem with it either, being a former GM employee in Mexico for 3 years, I have an aquired taste for all things Latin. Especially the woman.

Besides there is a perfectly good Delta plant right there and the labor cost would be cheaper.

[jbartley]

"What choice do they have? They are not going to not strike when everybody else in the country is striking," he said.

well doesn't that just make perfect sense! fire them all gm!

[I hope GMRULES again]

So it's possible that the next car I buy will also be from Lordstown. Interesting. So far the only new GMs I've bought have come from there.

I've bought 2 new cars that came from there too. I also toured it back in my younger days so I hope it survives.