Fate of Lordstown Ohio GE Plant Hinges on Union Talks

General Motors Company’s Chief Executive Mary Barra said in meetings with Ohio lawmakers that the future of the Lordstown, Ohio factor, slated for closure, can turn on the outcome of labor talks. Four factories in the U.S. and one in Canada could be shuttered by the end of 2019 if the automaker and its unions do not come up with an agreement to allocate more work to those facilities. Barra met with Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) to discuss the plant’s future. Both pushed Barra to save the automakers plant in Lordstown, Ohio. GM plans to stop producing the slow-selling Chevrolet Cruze compact car at the plant next year, leaving the factory without a product to build. The United Auto Workers Union is holding out hope that Lordstown and other factories that GM has on its list for likely closure can secure work and remain open.

Matt Austin owns Austin Legal, LLC, a boutique law firm based in Ohio that limits its representation to employers dealing with labor, employment, and OSHA matters. You can reach Matt by calling him at (614) 843-3041 or emailing him at Matt@MattAustinLaborLaw.com.