Toledo Powertrain to begin recall of up to 300 workers in April

General Motors Co.'s Toledo Powertrain plant will begin recalling as many as 300 laid-off employees in April for training on the plant's newest product, a six-speed, front-wheel-drive transmission.

"What a difference a year makes," said Ray Wood, president of United Auto Workers Local 14, which represents hourly employees at the Alexis Road facility.

The first "salable" versions of the new transmission won't be made until August, plant spokesman Wanda Wellman said, and all 300 workers likely won't be back on the job until later in the year. But those recalled workers should leave no one still on layoff from the plant.

Similarly at a GM foundry in Defiance, which will make related cast-aluminium engine blocks, its last 57 workers on layoff are to be called back to work and another 20 or more are expected to be hired this year.

GM is finishing construction of its new line at its Toledo facility to build the six-speed, front-wheel-drive transmissions, which will make its debut in a handful of small vehicles this year.

When it is completed and operating, it will be one of only two sources in North America for GM's fuel-efficient, small-car transmissions. Another variant of the transmission will be built in Warren, Mich.

The new transmission will be used in the new Chevrolet Cruze, being built in Lordstown, Ohio, as well as four other small, fuel-efficient GM vehicles, said Ms. Wellman. The Toledo plant currently has about 1,200 hourly workers.

In remarks this week in Lordstown, where GM will add a third shift of 1,200 workers to produce the Cruze, GM North America President Mark Reuss said he had passed through Toledo on his trip to the Lordstown plant.

"The cities we passed tell the story of a proud industry and a tremendous work force," he said. "Each town is a reminder of how many people and communities count on the auto industry for their livelihoods … and the huge responsibility that we at GM have to make our company as strong and vibrant as we can."

The Cruze, with a 1.4-liter Ecotec turbo engine made with castings produced at GM's Defiance Powertrain plant, is expected to deliver up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway and have a cruising range of more than 500 miles, Mr. Reuss said.

The Toledo Powertrain facility, repeatedly recognized by the prestigious Harbour Report as the most productive powertrain plant in North America, also makes a six-speed, rear-wheel-drive transmission that is used in GM light trucks and sport utility vehicles.

During the automaker's bankruptcy last year, GM opted to close its plant in Ypsilanti Township, Mich., concentrating production of the rear-wheel transmission in Toledo. Several workers from Ypsilanti transferred into the Toledo plant as part of that consolidation.

Mr. Wood said he hopes that as production of both lines ramps up late in 2010 and early 2011, that the plant would be able to begin hiring new workers locally. He cautioned, though, that such hiring could be a year or more away.

Contact Larry P. Vellequette at:

lvellequette@theblade.com

or 419-724-6091.