WNED-AM 970 News, July 15, 2008, Tuesday

WNED-AM 970 News

July 15, 2008, Tuesday

WNED-AM 970 News

GM Cuts Have Little Impact Locally

Jim Ranney

GM's Tonawanda Engine Plant on River Road employs about 1,600 hourly and salaried workers.
BUFFALO (2008-07-15) Confronted with a steep downturn in sales, General Motors plans to lay off salaried workers and cut truck and SUV production. The automaker also says it will borrow up to $3-billion. But the changes are not expected to have a major impact on local GM workers.

GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner calls it a "plan to win."

Arthur Wheaton of Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations says the changes will have little impact on the local GM workforce.

"I don't think it's going to have a major impact on them," Wheaton said.

GM's Tonawanda Engine Plant makes four, six and eight cylinder engines. Wheaton says its likely the plant will shift to producing more of the smaller engines to meet the demand for fuel efficient cars.

"They're quite capable of building smaller engines...and they have good quality and productivity numbers," Wheaton said.

GM's Tonawanda plant employs about 1,600 hourly and salaried workers.
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