General Motors may start moving large, expensive dies out of its Indianapolis metal stamping plant within the week, and Justin Norman wants to close a deal for the plant before it's too late.
"Once the business starts moving, there's no turning around," Norman said on Wednesday afternoon.
Norman, owner of Illinois-based JD Norman Industries, came to Indianapolis to make a personal plea for United Auto Workers Local 23 to allow a vote on his proposed five-year contract. If the contract is approved, Norman would be able to acquire the plant, as well as the book of business from GM. Norman said he hopes to grow beyond that business, as production volumes rise across the automotive industry.
Norman also talked about his commitment to becoming a U.S.-based manufacturer. He noted that 40 percent of GM's local workers are skilled tradespeople. "Skilled trades are core to our company," he said.
Norman also said he wants to retain 100 percent of the salaried and hourly workforce. He said there are about 90 salaried employees, and 661 hourly. (Some of those hourly workers are temps.)
Norman admitted he hoped media coverage of his press conference would bring pressure on UAW officials to hold a vote, which he believes was prevented by a "vocal minority."
The UAW's regional and national-level representatives had arranged for an informational meeting at the Drover Street union hall Sunday. Local members packed the house and shouted down the UAW presenters. A vote scheduled for Monday was canceled.
Many union members dislike the plan because it cuts base wages from $29 per hour to $15.50. Union reps say local members would rather see the plant close in the hopes that they'll be transferred to other GM plants.
But Norman said he senses strong support for his offer.
"Based upon the outpouring of phone calls that I personally have received from plant employees, I believe there is a sincere desire to listen to our offer," Norman said. "The employees of the facility deserve an opportunity to be educated on our proposal."
Norman said he's optimistic he can close the deal, which has been in the works since spring. "The whole transaction was structured and lined up. The fact that we were at the goal line ready to close gives me encouragement."
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Consider what the term "union" means. Never before did it mean 2 tier wages, working for years before full benefits start. Temporary employee would never have been considered by the former International UAW. If you worked, you were permanent. After 90 days you were exactly the same as the other employees. Your life wasn't in limbo for month after month. Do you remember those days?? Were you ever a true union person or just someone who sucked up to mgmt. and continued to reap the benefits of the Union? I watched for years while some (maybe even you) developed a me, me, me attitude rather than the All for One --One for All Union stance. Oh yeah,those kind stick out like a sore thumb.
Just a note to Barry Cooper--The UAW didn't force them to make their products in other countries. All the corporate "freebies" that came with Bill Clinton's NAFTA did that. Ever hear of NAFTA???? Raise you head up now and look around. You will see that lots of corporations moved their production out of the US. Not just UAW represented ones!!
I have little sympathy for GM executives, but the reality is that the UAW has forced them to make their stuff in other countries. Nissan, Toyota and other Japanese companies come here, pay market rates, and do just fine. They keep people employed throughout the south.
These people here: short sighted whiners. Enjoy your joblessness. When it hits--and it will--it's going to last a long time.
Since Reagan our government was in cahoots with Wall Street and the international (non USA) corporations for one purpose, to break the back of unions. The only connection many of these former US corporations have to the USA is that they control our government. GM got bailed out with USA money and they build factories in Mexico and elsewhere.
That free trade but sell out the USA strategy was intended to enrich Wall St capitalists and the formerly US corporations who could profit from new upcoming markets in China and elsewhere and sell foreign made products back to stupid uninformed Americans.
I find the view of some that it is un-American to have union employment contracts for average workers yet they see nothing wrong when a $50 million a year CEO who actually controls the company have an employment contract that is absurdly lucrative. The CEO should be required to risk his entrepreneurial and management abilities with the BOD and shareholders instead of being granted armor plated security with a platinum parachute.
Weâ??ve allowed the corporatists and Wall Street banksters to plunder the USA while Americans concern themselves only with the NFL and Dancing with the Stars. That was one major purpose that organized labor served. They did offset the now unilateral power of Wall St and foreign multi-national corporations who have no loyalty to the USA.
Tough situation all the way around especially for Mr. Norman who can't even get an appropriate vote while trying to save these very jobs.
It's an unfortunately new reality for everyone in this country right now.
They know they can be replaced by cheaper labor, but they have their contract and they are acting in their best self-interest. GM can't outsource this labor elsewhere because of the union contract. Case closed, this plant closed (but the work will still have to be done somewhere else within GM).
GM has acted in the management's self-interest for many years, which resulted in wiping out their owners and creditors, and the real headline story should be "Who is crazy enough to buy their stock in the IPO?" That's the crazy thing here. Not the fact that these workers are fighting for what was promised to them long time ago. Do you see any professional athletes give up on their contracts when there is a younger, better and cheaper player available? People tend to act in their best self-interest, so let's not use a double-standard here.
And trust me, your work can be done in half your salary...you are not ten times more productive and smarter than Chinese or Indian worker with same skills...and yes, they have enough people with your (or my) skills. We just need a decade or so to get there.
Why shouldn't the guy who sweeps the parking garage I park in each morning earn $29/hr + benefits? Because there is someone else QUALIFIED and willing to do it for $7.50/hr. Beleive me, if my employer thought they could get my QUALITY of effort and ability for half my salary, I'd be out of a job.
There my frineds, you have it. Case (and it seems, unfortunately, plant) closed.