UAW targets Malibu plant in Kansas
 

David Barkholz and
and Robert Sherefkin

Automotive News | April 18, 2008 - 2:58 pm EST

DETROIT — Production of the hot-selling Chevrolet Malibu is again endangered.

UAW Local 31 has given General Motors a five-day strike notice that it will walk out at GM’s Fairfax assembly plant Tuesday, April 22, unless local contract issues are resolved, said UAW Local 31 President Jeff Manning.

The UAW local at a GM stamping plant in Grand Rapids, Mich., also has sent a strike notification to the company.

The Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kan., builds the Malibu sedan. The 2,700 workers there do not have a local contract despite negotiations since GM signed its national contract with the UAW in September.

GM spokesman Dan Flores said the automaker continues to bargain in good faith with local unions in several locations. “Our focus is on reaching new local agreements as quickly as we can,” he said.

Manning said the two sides have not been able to agree on seniority and other factory issues. He declined to be more specific.

The Fairfax plant, which makes about 3,100 Malibus a week, is one of two GM plants that make the car. The other is Orion Township assembly in suburban Detroit. Orion has a local agreement — and it makes about 2,100 Malibus a week.

The Malibu sedan is in short supply at dealers. GM had only a 37-day supply on the vehicle on April 1.

Obstacle defused

The threat to Malibu production comes as GM defused another obstacle this week. The automaker said it had found enough parts made by American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. to keep building the car.

A parts shortage caused by the 2-month-old UAW strike at American Axle had threatened to crimp Malibu production.

ENLARGE

2008 Chevy Malibu