Detroit ? With the auto industry adding thousands of jobs in 2013, Michigan and other states are lobbying carmakers that they're the best location for expansion.
United Auto Workers officials said Tuesday that General Motors Co. is planning to announce at least 2,000 hourly jobs in 2013. Union President Bob King and Vice President Joe Ashton said Tuesday the Detroit automaker would be adding jobs and investments "very shortly."
GM confirmed new jobs are coming this year.
"We're coming back strong, and our new cars and trucks have meant billions of dollars and thousands of jobs created in the U.S.," GM spokesman Greg Martin said.
GM already has added 18,000 hourly jobs since it emerged from bankruptcy in 2009. The automaker announced last week it will add about 1,000 high-tech jobs in suburban Atlanta; that's in addition to up to 1,500 workers to be hired at its Warren Tech Center over the next four years.
GM isn't the only automaker who put out the "help wanted" sign. Ford has announced it is adding 3,400 hourly and salary jobs to its U.S. workforce this year, including 1,200 hourly jobs at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant.
The rush by automakers and suppliers to add jobs comes as U.S. car and light truck sales are expected to climb to at least 15 million ? 4 percent over 2012 ? for what would be the best year since 2007.
Gov. Rick Snyder, who signed a right-to-work law last month, met with more than a half-dozen automakers and suppliers Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show, trying to convince them to move jobs to Michigan.
The governors of Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky also attended the show this week, pitching their states.
"We've got enough good things going, where people from other parts of the country and around the world should come to Michigan," Snyder told reporters at the show.
Snyder said the decision to make Michigan a right-to-work state has led to more interest among industry site-selection firms. He said some auto-sector companies have praised the change.
"I got positive feedback from a couple of them, where they brought it up, but I don't ask," Snyder said.
Snyder wants to convince companies to build research and development or engineering centers in Michigan, before trying to convince them to build assembly plants. "The starting point to get someone to set up in Michigan is to say, 'Start with engineering.' Eventually that could lead to manufacturing."
Snyder declined to name the companies with which he met.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Tuesday touted his state's advantages as he toured the show. Kasich said Ohio has a good business case to add more auto jobs. "Sure, we would like to have more suppliers, more vehicles built," Kasich said. "We think we have a very good environment there for companies to do more."
The UAW's King said Detroit's Big Three are ahead of the job creation and investment they committed to in their 2011 deal.
"It's because of our success working together, because of success in the marketplace, the really high quality of the vehicles we are making," he said. "It's really exciting."
Ford Americas President Joe Hinrichs said the automaker has forged a strong partnership with the UAW.
"We couldn't do it if we didn't do it together, and now our business is a lot stronger. We're hiring," Hinrichs said. "Now we're talking about growth here."
But King called the right-to-work law "a huge mistake" that may hinder Michigan's prospects for adding jobs.
"Here we have a state that's coming together, bringing jobs ? because of labor and management, because of the relationship," he said. "To do a divisive thing like the right to work hurts the (auto) companies, hurts us bringing work into Michigan. ? We're not going to let that get us off path. ? Our members know we have to compete globally."
U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, who toured the show floor with King, credited labor and management for the auto industry turnaround. "We see a revival of manufacturing here," she said. "After a rough ride, now these jobs are coming back, assembly lines are opening up. There's a shared governance with labor and management."
dshepardson@detnews.com
(202) 662-8735
Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130116/AUTO04/301160354/1148/rss25
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