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Arlington GM Workers Look to Washington for Help GM, Arlington officials say rescue package will help ensure survival

By  LINDSAY WILCOX

Updated 10:21 PM CDT, Tue, Nov 18, 2008

Related Topics: Arlington

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KXAS

The General Motors assembly plant in Arlington employs 2,500 workers with a combined yearly salary of more than $300 million.

 

The sport utility vehicles continue rolling off the line, but workers at General Motors' Arlington assembly plant said they don't know where the rocky road will lead.

Arlington GM Workers Look to Washington for Help

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The sport utility vehicles continue rolling off the line, but workers at General Motors' Arlington assembly plant say they don't know what the future...

Texas Lawmakers Offer Little Support for Auto Industry Bailout

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Workers at the General Motors plant in Arlington get moral support from lawmakers in Washington, but no promises of financial assistance.

Mike Cartwrigth, who's worked for GM for 23 years, said there's "just uncertainty."

"Everybody's got questions," he said. "Everybody wants to know what's going on."

Because GM scheduled two other SUV plants for closure, employees in Arlington had been putting in overtime making Tahoes, Yukons and Escalades.

On Tuesday, the company put a stop to the overtime, saying the credit crisis is to blame.

"We're building the product, but its sitting on the lot because we can't ship them, because the dealers can't get the funding," GM spokeswoman Wendi Sabo said.

Hundreds of workers attended a rally Tuesday afternoon to hear from business and city leaders who said they supported a rescue package for the auto industry.

Robert Sterns, of the city of Arlington, told workers the devastation of a plant closure would spread far beyond the city.

"GM is vital not just to Arlington, but to the rest of the Metroplex and Texas as well," he said.

Workers said they fear if the company is forced into bankruptcy, the plant will close.

The Arlington plant employs 2,500 workers with a combined yearly salary of more than $300 million.

GM and the United Auto Workers said they've both made major sacrifices to remain competitive, but the credit crisis is out of their control.

Comments (17)

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  • Shanel Monday, Nov 24 at 3:15 PM FLAG COMMENT T Boned- Why are you yelling? -- Rude! Bottom line- American cars don't last long and I'm not going to re-buy a new car every 10 years just to be partriotic--Make cars that last and don't depreciate so fast and you will obtain and keep loyal customers!!!--Be the best at what you do
  • Vance Wednesday, Nov 19 at 9:25 PM FLAG COMMENT The BIG 3s definitely need help but it has to work both ways since they cant make tax payers pay for them. Since they still have 1.5M cars in stock, they need to give huge incentives to purchasers and get reimburse from the government. Hey AUW Arlington, it's time for you to step down and take over our cheap pay job, I'm sure you can survice making $10/hour. We're more than happy to trade job with you since we can do a much be ... MORE >
  • Jan Wednesday, Nov 19 at 1:27 PM FLAG COMMENT If you think that letting the American Car company go under is a good thing just sit on your hands and let it happen. When not one of these men and women can buy any of the goods or services your shops provide you will start singing the blues. Buy your Japanese cars and lets see where your kids and grand kids will work when there is NO more AMERICAN JOBS to be found!!!!!
  • No More Wednesday, Nov 19 at 12:08 PM FLAG COMMENT We cannot think with emotion here. GM, Ford And Chrysler all made bad decisions. We cannot be mad at the taxpayer for not wanting to foot the bill. The government need to release their stifling restrictions on manufacturing and EPA crap. Let the automakers do what they do best, make cars. The union thing is the company's own fault, any drag produced by unions should be dealt with by the company itself.
  • T BONED Wednesday, Nov 19 at 11:34 AM FLAG COMMENT GM SHOULD WAKE UP. THEY STILL HAVE A VIABLE OPTION TO TRY AND PUSH THROUGH AND IN DOING SO GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANY.SINCE THE CREDIT CRUNCH IS AFFECTING TESLA SO BADLY AS FAR AS GETTING PRODUCTION FACILITIES.GM SHOULD BUY TESLA AND MAKE IT THEIR PREMIER GREEN LINE.THEY WILL NEED TO THEN GET LISCENSING TO BUILD LOTUS BODY .THEY SHOULD ALSO PUT INTO PRODUCTION THE SEDAN TESLA HAS PROPOSED.IN ORDER FOR THIS TO WORK GM WILL ... MORE >

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