TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WBEN) - With a labor contract that expires in September and constant concern over loss of jobs, auto industry experts believe that General Motors CEO Mary Barra's appearance at the Tonawanda engine plant on Thursday is a positive sign for the nearly 1,400 workers there.
“This industry has been part of my life since before I was born,” Barra said in a statement.“We only win when customers buy our products and tell us we’re the best. We have to work together, and it’s not a privilege to win, we have to earn the right to win.”
In February, it was reported that General Motors would cut 4,000 workers because of restructuring. Prior to that, GM announced it would close five plants in North America, which resulted in the loss of about 14,000 jobs.
Wheaton explained that much of the job worries are because of the changing trends in the industry, such as the US customers decision to buy trucks more often than cars. The Tonawanda plant was tasked with creating the engines for the 2020 Chevy Silverado as part of a $295 million investment in the Powertrain plant.
Detroit automotive consultant Jeff Gilbert told WBEN that Barra visited multiple plants over the last few months.
"She wants to show the workforce that they are connected at the plant level and talk to the workers," Gilbert said. "If you've ever met her, she's quite an engaging person. she has a really good relation 1-to-1 with the workers even if the union is upset with GM's plant closings."
Gilbert expects a contentious battle with the union negotiations with much of the focus on a reversal of the plant closings.
Barra did not make any announcement during her visit to Tonawanda on Thursday.