AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT GENERAL MOTORS (09/22/24)

Am I Next? Reduction in force at General Motors in Flint, Michigan.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 — MASSIVE LAYOFF IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS

The company will lay off 1,695 workers at its Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, in two phases. The first phase will begin on November 18, 2024, impacting 686 full-time workers temporarily and terminating 250 temporary employees. The second phase will begin on January 12, 2025, when 759 full-time workers will be temporarily laid off when the plant re-tools.

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 — 500 SALARIED EMPLOYEES

The company has announced a cost-cutting initiative that would eliminate 500 executive-level and salaried employees across various functions of the company.

According to a company spokesperson, “Today’s action follows our most recent performance calibration and supports managing the attrition curve as part of our overall structural costs reduction effort. This action impacts a small number of salaried employees and executives globally."

AUGUST 27, 2021 — 122 LAYOFFS IN TOLEDO, OHIO

The company has announced the layoff of 122 employees at its Toledo Transmission Operations by September 27, 2021.

The production schedule for the 6-speed rear-wheel drive transmission at the plant will result in the layoffs of 122 production employees including 16 permanent and 106 temporary workers.

The decision was driven by “GM's review of customers' needs and market demands.”

MARCH 4, 2021 — Original post…

Detroit, Michigan-based General Motors Company, the iconic American automobile, and parts manufacturer, has announced that it will be permanently laying off 160 to 170 employees at its Flint, Michigan engine assembly facility.

It appears that the decision to permanently lay off workers due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and a worldwide shortage of semiconductor chips used in automotive control systems. Approximately 50 to 150 or more semiconductor chips may be required in control and monitoring systems per vehicle.

Flint Engine Operations primarily builds the turbo-assisted engine for use in the Chevrolet Equinox which is assembled in Canada.

Disruptions in supply-chain management is often used by manufacturers to adjust the size of a unionized workforce to better match current or projected future revenue flows.

Politicians are also commenting on the layoffs as an excuse to produce critical semiconductors domestically to prevent such chips from being a bargaining chip in trade wars.

According to experts, the semiconductor shortage is the result of an unusually large demand last year for electronic devices used by consumers confined to home due to mandatory pandemic lockdowns.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? GENERAL MOTORS TO LAYOFF 14,000 EMPLOYEES, SHUT DOWN SEVERAL PLANTS (04/12/25)

Am I Next? Mass layoffs (14,000) and plant closings at General Motors.

APRIL 12, 2025 — 200 EV WORKERS

General Motors is laying off workers at its all-electric Factory Zero plant in Detroit, Michigan, where it is adjusting production “to align with market dynamics,” according to a company statement.

Factory Zero is home to the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Hummer EV SUV, and all-electric Escalade IQ. Approximately 200 employees are targeted.

AUGUST 20, 2024 — 1,000 EMPLOYEES TARGETED

The company confirmed there will be layoffs in its software and services division.

Approximately 1,000 employees, including approximately 600 employees at the company’s headquarters in Detroit, are targeted.

According to a company spokesperson, “As we build GM’s future, we must simplify for speed and excellence, make bold choices, and prioritize the investments that will have the greatest impact. As a result, we’re reducing certain teams within the Software and Services organization.”

This is the opening move of the two recently hired former Apple executives who now head the company’s software and services division.

AUGUST 26, 2023 — CHANDLER, ARIZONA FACILITY CLOSURE

The company has announced that it will be closing its Chandler, Arizona Information Technology Innovation Center and laying off 936 employees when the facility closes on October 31, 2023.

According to a company spokesperson, “As part of GM’s continued transformation, and to better align our Innovation Center footprint and IT resources in the US, we have made the decision to cease our IT operation at our Chandler, AZ, Innovation Center later this year. Employees working in our software-defined vehicle teams will remain in AZ. Affected employees will have an opportunity to apply for open positions.”

MAY 3, 2023 — SEVERAL HUNDRED CONTRACT EMPLOYEES GONE

The company is continuing its cost-cutting initiative with the announcement that the company has laid off several hundred contract employees, including those at its Detroit, Michigan product development center.

DECEMBER 4, 2019 —814 WORKERS AT THE HAMTRAMCK ASSEMBLY PLANT IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN

The company has announced that it will lay off 814 workers, both salaried and hourly, at the Hamtramck Assembly Plant in Detroit, Michigan commencing February 28, 2020. The plant is scheduled to be re-tooled for the production of electric vehicles which will be produced starting in 2021.

The current production of the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 will come to an end in early 2020, followed by a plant retooling for the production of electric vehicles, including a pickup, a van, and suv starting in 2021.

The plant was originally scheduled to be closed, but the United Auto Workers union mounted a massive strike which led to revised plans.

AUGUST 26, 2019 — 335 WORKERS AT THE WARREN, MICHIGAN PLANT SLATED TO BE LAID OFF

Layoffs are beginning at the Warren, Michigan transmission plant. Also affected are vendors and those who support the community.

According to a company spokesperson, “The 6-speed transmission was a good product and was built with tremendous pride by the Warren team. We know this is an emotional time for our Warren Transmission team members. We appreciate their commitment and hard work to build the highest quality possible into each and every transmission produced at Warren Transmission Operations. Our focus remains on the employees and the impacted communities. We have job opportunities for every hourly employee at the impacted plants. These are highly-skilled employees, and we want them to stay with the company. We have now placed more than 1,700 employees (out of 2,800) from our unallocated plants to other GM locations. Our goal is to build a strong future for our employees and our business.”

Original post…

The handwriting is on the wall and the Sirens are singling their deadly song.

In a press release, General Motors has confirmed that it intends to “accelerate its transformation for the future, building on the comprehensive strategy it laid out in 2015 to strengthen its core business, capitalize on the future of personal mobility and drive significant cost efficiencies.”

More specifically, the automaker is planning to reduce its salaried workforce by 15%, representing approximately 14,000 employees as well as closing, “unallocating” in corporate-speak, or reducing production at several plants. Plants targeted in North America include the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly operation in Detroit, Michigan; the Lordstown Assembly operation in Warren, Ohio; the Oshawa Assembly operation in Oshawa, Ontario (Canada); the Baltimore propulsion operations in White Marsh, Maryland; the Warren Transmission operation in Warren, Michigan; and other foreign operations.

General Motors declines to indicate that the facilities will be permanently closed due to ongoing negotiations with its primary labor union, the United Auto Workers.

Mary Barra, Chairman and CEO of General Motors noted, “The actions we are taking today continue our transformation to be highly agile, resilient and profitable, while giving us the flexibility to invest in the future. We recognize the need to stay in front of changing market conditions and customer preferences to position our company for long-term success. The company is transforming its global workforce to ensure it has the right skill sets for today and the future, while driving efficiencies through the utilization of best-in-class tools. Actions are being taken to reduce salaried and salaried contract staff by 15 percent, which includes 25 percent fewer executives to streamline decision making. These actions will increase the long-term profit and cash generation potential of the company and improve resilience through the cycle.”

The company suggests that these actions will continue “to take proactive steps to improve overall business performance including the reorganization of its global product development staffs, the realignment of its manufacturing capacity and a reduction of salaried workforce. These actions are expected to increase annual adjusted automotive free cash flow by $6 billion by year-end 2020 on a run-rate basis.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? THE HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL AT GENERAL MOTORS

Am I Next? General Motors to offer early retirement and employee buyouts to all 50,000 North America workers.

Detroit, Michigan-based General Motors has announced that it it offering early retirements and voluntary buyouts to 18,000 workers preparatory to cost-reduction layoffs in 2019.

A GM spokesperson confirmed that “We sent a letter to employees saying any salaried employee in North America with 12 years or more experience will have the opportunity to take a voluntary severance program. Depending on how many workers take the offer and other cost-cutting efforts, we'll re-evaluate doing an involuntary program after the first of the year. We’ve been on a journey to transform the company, both in how we operate the business and in how we lead in the future of mobility. Even with the positive progress we’ve made, we are taking proactive steps to get ahead of the curve by accelerating our efforts to address overall business performance." Considering GM is faced with shifting buyer preferences, slowing sales, increased commodity costs due to trade tariffs, currency fluctuations, and stronger competition, it makes sense to prepare for the uncertain future.

In June 2018 it appears almost 600 workers in GM’s Lordstown plant took a similar offer prior to the shutdown of second shift operations and forced layoffs.

Am I Next? Gambling on early retirement or buyouts at General Motors.

It is crunch time for some GM employees. But it is a crap shoot for some older workers who may find that it is difficult to obtain employment when competing with hundreds if not thousands of skilled younger autoworkers suffering from layoffs at the major car companies.

It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere ... are you wondering, Am I Next?