| General Motors and the United Auto Workers have | | | | terms it could save money by paying overtime after a |
| not yet officially started their contract talks and yet | | | | worker puts in more than 40 hours a week rather than |
| critical battles are already waging on various plants of | | | | the usual eight hours in one day. Similarly, less break |
| GM around the country. | | | | time and rules on absenteeism are likely to be included |
| GM the producer of top-of-the-line GMC turn signal is | | | | on the automaker’s wish list. The other key goals |
| trying to push UAW locals at its factories to accept | | | | would probably include: fewer job classifications, which |
| the money-saving work rule changes that would | | | | would improve work flexibility by allowing workers to |
| involved reduced break time to give way for the | | | | do more than one job, and the ability to outsource |
| accomplishment of more jobs. This policy is currently | | | | more non-production related jobs. |
| employed by some of GM’s foreign competitors | | | | These rules are already implemented in US plants |
| particularly Toyota Motor Corp. | | | | especially those owned by foreign competitors which |
| FoMoCo was also successful in implementing such | | | | are mostly found in the South and staffed by nonunion |
| so-called competitive operating agreements in place | | | | labor. |
| with the relative ease in more than three dozen of its | | | | The first signs of dispute at GM happened last month |
| US plant unfortunately for GM is having hard time | | | | when disagreements over work rule changes |
| convincing UAW to give it the same contract. | | | | temporarily stalled talks to bring new vehicles to plants |
| The risks are high in these plant-by-plant battles since it | | | | in Kansas City, Kan., and Lordstown, Ohio. Both these |
| could signal how agreeable the UAW will be to | | | | plants produce small cars that have for many years |
| agreements that would secure future work during | | | | have been money-losers for GM. Top UAW officials |
| national contract talks which would officially start in | | | | mediate in the negotiations, ordering the local union |
| July. For GM as much as possible it would like to set | | | | leaders to stop its discussion with GM. |
| the tone earlier just to send the message that it will not | | | | The automaker has responded by calling off work to |
| tolerate money-wasting practices, but of course it is | | | | prepare the plants for the production of future vehicles. |
| expected that the union will not easily forgo hard-won | | | | The automaker has also made it clear that without a |
| safeguards in the workplace. | | | | competitive operating agreement the plants could lose |
| General Motors has been trying for years to put more | | | | work. |
| flexible work rules in place at its plants. The company | | | | On the other hand while the other plants are battling it |
| however has not divulged any details on how many | | | | with GM, the former Saturn plant in Hill, Tenn., are |
| factories would have such agreements but officials | | | | preparing to build a new Chevrolet crossover SUV, this |
| have acknowledged that progress has been slower | | | | is after GM was able to secure a work rules deal with |
| than what they have hoped for. | | | | the workers. The Spring Hill workers were desperate |
| General Motors has employed many schemes just to | | | | for a new product after the automaker has canceled |
| get the union to implement money-saving practices | | | | plans to build a minivan there. |
| especially since it has already some of the most highly | | | | GM’s next target is massive Orion Assembly plant |
| efficient plants in United States. But despite that the | | | | in Oakland Country where the automaker has secured |
| company is still looking for a much broader and more | | | | local tax breaks that is often accompanied with the |
| comprehensive changes. | | | | promise of a new product investment. General Motors |
| For its North American operation GM has lost an | | | | has made its Pontiac G6 in Orion and is considering |
| average of $1,300 for each of its vehicle while its rival | | | | bring production of the new Malibu sedan there in case |
| Toyota is making about $2,100 on each car and truck | | | | demands exceed capacity at Kansas City which is the |
| built in the US basing on the data gathered from the | | | | primary production site for the Malibu. The Malibu is |
| Center for Automotive Research that is often cited by | | | | expected to go on sale later this year. |
| GM. | | | | Union leaders have chosen not to comment on the |
| According to experts big and small issues in terms of | | | | negotiations saying that members have not yet seen |
| work changes can have significant impact on the | | | | GM’s proposal for a more competitive operating |
| company and can help in saving hundreds of millions of | | | | agreement at Orion. But there are some workers who |
| dollars annually especially when implemented | | | | are saying that GM’s new work rules will definitely |
| companywide. | | | | face resistance. |
| For instance if GM could get the UAW to agree on its | | | | |