General Motors plans to further cut production of its struggling full-size trucks. GM CEO Fritz Henderson explained this morning previously announced cuts would be accelerated . Just six weeks ago GM announced it would be closing the Janesville plant at the end of 2010. United Auto Workers Local 95 first vice president Andy Richardson says the announcement doesn't bode well for Janesville, and they're waiting for official word the 2010 closing date may come earlier. Many GM workers in Janesville anticipate being off the last two months of this year, which would give GM the opportunity to meet state requirements for advanced notice of a major layoff.
Richardson says the noose just keeps getting tighter, on hopes of convincing GM to produce a more fuel efficient vehicle in Janesville. “When you think you have a year to work on getting another product, now all of a sudden it comes down to weeks,” says Richardson. “That's really gonna hurt.” Currently a team including UAW Local 95 president Brad Dutcher and other local leaders are working on a proposal to present to GM, to keep building vehicles in Janesville, where autoworkers have already been informed they face an additional ten weeks of layoff this year. They go back to work July 29th.
