Could a Strike Happen at Fort Wayne's GM Plant? Here's How:

Could a Strike Happen at Fort Wayne’s GM Plant? Here’s How:

If a strike occurs, the plant will likely halt truck production, impacting assembly of models like the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.

Source: UCG / Getty

FORT WAYNE, IND — Union leaders at GM’s Fort Wayne, Indiana, truck assembly plant claim the company is violating the UAW-GM agreement and seeking international approval to strike.

Rich LeTourneau, chair of UAW Local 2209, says GM laid off about 250 part-time, temporary workers, which he claims forced the company to shift senior workers to different shifts and departments, violating the contract.

“I’m demanding that they put these people back,” he says. “They’re putting undue stress on these workers. These aren’t young people; many are 50 and 60 years old and are being forced into the hardest jobs in the plant after paying their dues to get to the better positions.”

The layoffs followed the local union’s refusal to sign a letter allowing GM to continue using the temporary workers to help build Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.

“My seniority people come first; they always have and always will,” LeTourneau says. “Temporary employees come second. A lot of people have misunderstood that this is about temporary workers, but it’s just the opposite.”

He explained that having temporary workers only work 32 hours puts significant pressure on his full-time staff because it doesn’t fully cover the jobs; the plant needs to be staffed for 40 hours a week.

If a strike happens, the plant would likely halt truck production, impacting the assembly of models like the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. GM could also face significant financial losses due to production stoppages and delays in meeting customer demand.

“Quite frankly, that’s the last thing I want to do, but they need to know that we are willing to go out,” LeTourneau added.

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