Opinion: GM president pens oped before UAW negotiations: What he said
As president of General Motors, I’ve had the privilege of visiting nearly every plant we operate, including most if not all our U.S. facilities. As many have heard me say before, those days are among the best days I have at work.
"Privilege" is the right word to use. It’s an honor to walk the floor as vehicles that will end up in the driveways and garages of our customers are assembled. It’s an arduous, complex and fascinating process that’s remarkable to see. But what’s even more remarkable is the team of people that make it happen, every day.
I constantly come away amazed by the innovative spirit and accomplishments of our manufacturing teams. They worked through the COVID-19 pandemic and supply-chain disruptions, figuring out new ways to make components and vehicles safely and with the highest quality. They give their all, every day, and we absolutely consider their collective manufacturing expertise to be a competitive advantage for GM, which is why we believe our manufacturing employees should be recognized and rewarded and should share in the company’s success.
For decades, GM has worked with the UAW to ensure these hard-working women and men receive a total compensation and benefits package that supports them, including a world-class healthcare plan paid for by the company, a profit-sharing program that just distributed the largest bonus payments ever to our employees, and plentiful career development and training opportunities.
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And we’re committed to offering competitive packages that can accommodate the evolving needs of our manufacturing teams and recognize their contributions to the company’s current and future success.
A few weeks ago, I spent time with UAW President Shawn Fain, UAW Vice President Mike Booth and other UAW leaders at a meeting we jointly hosted for the top operational executives and local union partners from all our U.S. manufacturing plants. We shared an update about the business and heard from several outside speakers about the future of the automotive industry and the future of work — two things GM and the UAW care about. That’s why we are doing everything possible to bring all our employees with us as we transform our company and industry. Here are just a few of the ways we’re doing that:
Investing approximately $12 billion annually into our existing plants through 2025 while maintaining market share in internal combustion engine (ICE) pickup trucks and SUVs. This includes more than $600 million in upgrades to "people spaces" in our facilities, such as lunchrooms, break rooms and other common areas.
We recently announced $3 billion in our U.S. plants to maintain our truck and SUV dominance in the market. This is part of the $16.8 billion GM has invested since 2019 in our U.S. manufacturing and distribution facilities.
Retooling existing assembly plants requires us to upskill our already talented and experienced manufacturing workforce. Despite the tight labor market, we continue to recruit, train and retain the smartest workers — people with important technical skills and an aptitude for problem-solving on the factory floor.
Creating flexible manufacturing processes that can adapt to changing consumer preferences, to be ready with the portfolio of EV and ICE vehicles that consumers want.
Building resilient, U.S.-based supply chains to source the raw materials, parts and components essential for our vehicle assembly operations.
Launching programs like GM’s Earn a Living, Make a Life initiative, where we spotlight several of our incredible manufacturing employees who give their all during shifts, and even more afterwards. It’s an inspiring opportunity to celebrate our team members’ contributions at work and in their lives outside of work as well. In addition to shining light on our employees, GM has also made our internal Employee Resource Groups more accessible for all team members so that they can continue to shine personally and professionally.
Investing in the local communities where we operate, from Arlington and Fairfax to Flint and Toledo
Last year, GM provided $60 million in grants to more than 400 eligible nonprofits across the U.S. to help support and strengthen our communities. In addition to company grants, GM employees are incredibly generous in giving their time and dollars through our GM Cares program, donating more than $5 million of personal funds and nearly 160,000 volunteer hours to more than 600 nonprofits.
We are proud of our employees because they directly contribute to the success and financial health of the company. The gains are mutual, so the rewards are shared. We’re committed to continuing this progress that will benefit not only our UAW-represented employees, the UAW and our company, but also our customers, dealers, suppliers and investors.
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But mutual gains are only possible if we work together. If we can’t, the entire U.S. manufacturing sector suffers ― and manufacturing contributes more than $2.8 trillion to the U.S. economy and employs nearly 13 million Americans, with pay and benefits above national averages. To put that in perspective, if the U.S. manufacturing sector were a separate country, it would have the eighth largest economy in the world.
That’s why it’s so critical that we sustain the manufacturing resurgence in the U.S. by working together. Our hard-working manufacturing employees are already leading the way. Let’s do everything we possibly can to support them.
Mark Reuss is president of General Motors.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Opinion: GM's Reuss pens oped before UAW contract talks: What he said
