Initial openings will be filled by recalled laid off Flint Assembly employees currently working elsewhere.
General Motors today announced plans to start a third shift at Flint Assembly, adding back 750 jobs in the plant that makes Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups.
The shift is expected to start in the third quarter of this year with employees starting to arrive at Flint Assembly in the second quarter. No new employees are expected to be hired.
Flint Assembly currently has 2,100 hourly and salaried employees and operates on two production shifts. In 2010 the plant produced 115,000 trucks, most were regular and crew-cab versions of the heavy-duty Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. In 2010 the plant added production of regular and crew-cab version of the light-duty Silverado.
“Adding a third shift is a response to customer demand for heavy-duty pickups, which most people use to tow, haul and plow,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. “Equally importantly, it brings jobs and a needed economic boost to the Flint area.”
GM’s new heavy-duty trucks went on sale last summer and GM claims with some justification that they can out-tow, out-haul and out-perform competing ford and Chrysler heavy duty pickup trucks.
“I want to thank the Local 598 members for their hard work in building the best pickups on the road,” said UAW Local 598 Chairman Dana Rouse. “Adding the third shift allows us to call back some former Flint Assembly workers and provide employment for others who have been laid off.”
The firs group of employees is expected to arrive at Flint Assembly in the second quarter with additional workers arriving until the plant starts the third shift in the third quarter. Initial openings will be filled by recalled laid off Flint Assembly employees currently working at other facilities, primarily in Lansing. Remaining openings will be filled by laid-off employees in the area, including those from Orion, Willow Run and Warren in accordance with the UAW GM National Agreement.
Since opening in 1947, Flint Assembly has built more than 13 million vehicles, including the Chevrolet Corvette, Bel Air, Monte Carlo and Suburban.
Flint Assembly is one of five manufacturing-related sites operated by GM in the Flint area. Other GM sites include Flint Engine Operations, Flint Metal Center, Flint Tool & Die and the Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center. GM’s Customer Care is based in Grand Blanc and operates warehouse and distribution centers in Flint. In total, GM employs more than 6,000 employees in the Flint area.
