Second shift ends; final date for GM Moraine in air
Saturday, September 27, 2008
MORAINE — For Matt Grice, Friday Sept. 26 was a milestone — his last day working at General Motors Corp.'s local assembly plant.
The 36-year-old was taking the transition in stride as he nursed a beer at the Upper Deck, a favorite after-hours hangout for many local GM workers. "Maybe this is a blessing in disguise," the Franklin resident said.
The last evening production shift at the Stroop Road plant was Sept. 12. The plant operates by a seniority system, with more senior second-shift workers in some cases displacing less senior first-shift workers. For the 400 to 500 workers displaced, Friday was the last day.
Workers like Brenda Collins, 44, knew that when they left the plant Friday, they likely wouldn't return. Collins said she planned to return to college to pursue a business degree.
"I really believe that there will definitely be life after GM," Collins said.
Meanwhile, the final date for all remaining workers is approaching, a union leader said, although he would not reveal that date.
GM in June said the plant will close by 2010. Harry Bogan, a regional director for the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communication Workers of America — which represents the plant's hourly workers — said last week he expected a precise closing date from GM by month's end.
On Friday, Bogan said he has the date, but he could not announce it publicly. He said he hopes to be able to reveal the date by next week.
The plant is scheduled to be down in December. Asked if workers will not return to jobs in January 2009, Bogan said, "That would be my guess."
A GM spokeswoman, Sharon Basel, declined to comment other than to say that the automaker stands by its planned closing date of 2010 or earlier.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390
or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
