Remaining laid-off GM workers return to Toledo Powertrain

Congressman Marcy Kaptur gives a thumbs-up after arriving at GM Toledo Powertrain in a red, four-door Chevy Cruze that she drove from the nearby Miracle Mile Shopping Center. THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON Enlarge | Photo Reprints

A small Ohio-made car delivered U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) back to General Motors Co.'s award-winning Toledo Powertrain plant yesterday.

The same car — the all-new, fuel-efficient Chevrolet Cruze, being assembled in Lordstown, Ohio — will be responsible for the return to work next week of the last 32 hourly workers laid off from the Toledo transmission plant at the start of the auto crisis, plant officials said yesterday.

Plant manager Joe Choate said the high-volume Cruze, which will go on sale next month for about $16,000 and gets 40 miles per gallon, will mean more work for the Toledo plant, and could lead to new hiring by the end of the year.

“The last of the people that we laid off are back to work next week, and we're actually going to be in a position to add jobs, full-time as well as temporary, to people who have never worked for this factory,” Mr. Choate said. “We're building back out of [the auto crisis]. Our new product has started very well, and volume's going to quadruple on it by the end of January.”

Since 2006, GM has invested $900 million in its Toledo plant, which has been recognized by a widely respected industry study as the most productive transmission plant operated by any manufacturer in nine of the last 12 years. Most recently, that's meant more than $350 million in new equipment to manufacture fuel-efficient six-speed front-wheel drive transmissions that will go in high-volume vehicles such as the Cruze and the Chevy Malibu.

There are 1,427 hourly and salaried workers at the Alexis Road GM Toledo plant, which also makes a six-speed rear-wheel drive automatic transmission for GM trucks and sport utility vehicles. The plant recently hired 200 temporary workers. More than 600 applied, Mr. Choate said.

Dozens of other workers have returned to the Toledo factory in recent months as production has ramped up on the front-wheel drive transmission.

“I live three miles from here, so it's great to be back,” Lisa Drake said. She was laid off from Toledo Powertrain in July, 2008, but was worked at GM's transmission plant in Willow Run, Mich., on temporary assignment since. Ms. Drake returned to her home plant this week to begin two weeks of orientation and job-shadowing before she fully rejoined the work force.

GM announced as part of its bankruptcy filing that it planned to close the Willow Run facility, and transfer its work to Toledo.

“I got my letter [to come back] about a week ago. It worked out. It was a blessing to stay working, but I'll be happy not to have to spend $400 a month in gas to drive there,” Ms. Drake said.

Miss Kaptur, who owns a Ford 500 sedan and a Chevrolet Malibu, said she “really liked” the Cruze, and was considering exchanging her Malibu for the Ohio-made vehicle. She said the Cruze is a perfect example of the resurgent and re-energized domestic auto industry.

“When the auto industry resurges, it's resurging here in our region,” Miss Kaptur said. “The fact that GM is hiring here, that we're moving this car into the marketplace, means our community will benefit as we benefit our country.”

Ms. Kaptur drove a four-door red Cruze to the factory from the nearby Miracle Mile Shopping Center. United Auto Workers Local 14 President Ray Wood rode with her.

Contact Larry P. Vellequette at:lvellequette@theblade.comor 419-724-6091.

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Rhonda Modrzynski prepares a transmission case at Powertrain, which has received more than $350 million in new equipment. THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Since 2006, GM has invested $900 million in its Toledo plant, which has been recognized by a widely respected industry study as the most productive transmission plant operated by any manufacturer in nine of the last 12 years