Chrysler Group LLC plans to offer about 400 jobs in metro Detroit to workers from its Twinsburg, Ohio, stamping plant, while the automaker prepares to freshen its slow-selling midsize sedans -- a move that could temporarily extend jobs of about 1,300 workers at the Sterling Heights assembly plant.
Twinsburg, one of eight U.S. factories not included in the government-backed sale to the new Fiat-controlled Chrysler, makes doors, roofs and hoods for the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan minivans. It is to close by the end of this year, but most of the plant's hourly employees will be able to transfer to the metro Detroit plants, where the work is to be consolidated.
UAW leaders told workers Sunday at Chrysler's Warren stamping plant that about 150 of the Twinsburg transferees could come to their plant, and the other 250 could go to the Sterling stamping plant on Van Dyke just south of Chrysler's Sterling Heights assembly plant.
"This is definitely good news," said Matt Wetherholt, a die-maker in Twinsburg. "There are still questions about seniority, but the sooner we know the better."
Meanwhile, Chrysler spokesman Max Gates said the Sterling Heights assembly plant is still scheduled to close by the end of 2010. But, as the Free Press previously reported, Chrysler wants to freshen the exterior and interior of the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger.
That work is raising hopes within the UAW that the closing could be delayed until 2011 or later.
People from BAP are displaced and transfer to KEP, a plant scheduled to close. Due to 2nd shift at BAP being canceled, we made this transfer to KEP. Months later, BAP announced that it will reopen a 2nd shift temporary and fill those jobs we left with many temp workers thus creating temp workers at both plants.
Now the Twinsburg, Ohio people are going to Sterling Heights assembly plant to work as temps, which is also a plant scheduled to close. Could Chrysler announce down the road that the Twinsburg plant will increase production for a temp amount of time like BAP did and fill those spots with temps/displaced seniority members working in a temp status? Is there a pattern here?
With all of this shuffle of people, it causes lots of unrest in the employees. If offered in November, I expect several seniority employees will take a buy-out to just leave the GAME and all the stress it continues to cause!
Last edited by BrianLaws on Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:43 pm; edited 2 times in total
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
