There are mixed feelings on whether or not the Janesville General Motors plant will reopen. The company’s CEO says they are considering reactivating one of two plants on standy, Janesville or Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Former Shop Chair John Dohner Jr. thinks it’s more likely Spring Hill will be chosen. He cites the leadership is in place at that facility which is still operating with workers where as Janesville’s workforce has been decimated. “It would be like General Motors to reward Tennessee after all they did last year at this time,” says Dohner.
Tim Cullen, co-chair of the former GM Retention Task Force, is cautiously optimistic but says it would be “foolish” to get hopes up too high.
But Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan is more optimistic. The Former UAW Local 95 President adds the Janesville facility is one of two GM plants sitting idle right now and believes when the economy turns out the “greatest workforce in the world” could be called back to production.”Until they take a bulldozer to that plant I’m going to do everything I can to try and lure them back to Janesville,” says Sheridan.
There is no set time line for the automaker’s announcement.
Beth Wheelock-WCLO