Massive layoffs

Jamie L. LaReau Detroit Free Press Published 3:03 PM EST Feb 5, 2019 General Motors workers with less than three years' seniority who are losing their jobs in the automaker's white-collar cuts will receive just a few weeks of severance pay, according to documents obtained by the Free Press. GM on Tuesday was in the second day of massive salaried job cuts across its North American offices, targeting about 4,000 workers as part of a restructuring plan that includes indefinitely idling five factories where about 6,200 jobs are affected. Those in GM's salaried ranks described the atmosphere as "awful," with tensions high. In a photo sent to the Free Press, workers in an Austin, Texas, office stand in their cubicles watching as colleagues selected for layoff are walked out. One of those fired described the process: "HR emails you. You get an invite to meet with HR in a conference room. They read the script to you, discuss what … [Read more...] about GM white-collar job cuts: How layoff process is happening

Jamie L. LaReau Detroit Free Press Published 9:21 AM EST Jan 11, 2019 General Motors said its decision to cut thousands of jobs and idle five plants in North America will add $2 billion to $2.5 billion to its bottom line in 2019. The carmaker Friday predicted a robust year for its global car sales, citing its emphasis on bringing either new or redesigned SUVs and pickups to various markets. In the United States, it said it will maintain sales momentum despite eliminating five, possibly, six sedans from its product offering. "There are some vehicles that will go out of production, but we will be offering a full-year of sales of the new Cadillac XT4 (SUV) and the new Chevrolet Blazer (SUV)" as well as the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, said GM CEO Mary Barra. GM's President Mark Reuss said GM may not eliminate the Cadillac CT6 sedan despite announcing it will idle the Detroit Hamtramck plant that builds the car. "We have not made an … [Read more...] about GM predicts profitable 2019 with plant closures, layoffs

Frank Witsil Detroit Free Press Published 7:01 AM EST Dec 1, 2018 Among America’s largest cities, Detroit has the highest percentage of single-parent households,  nearly 72 percent, more than twice the percentage for the United States as a whole. That statistic, experts say, may make the city even more vulnerable to economic downturns and massive layoffs, such as the thousands of job cuts GM announced this week.  "Across the country, single-parent households are more likely to face financial challenges than married-couple households," a report, which was released this week by Haven Life Insurance, said. "Much of this is attributable to the fact that single parents only have one income." Take Peggy Jones, a UAW representative at the GM Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant. She is worried about looming layoffs. Separated from her husband, she is trying to raise her five teenage grandchildren on her own. "At the age I am now, it would … [Read more...] about GM layoffs hurt single-parent households more