Local

Medium-duty truck line may see new life

Monday, September 07, 2009

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Kristen Abraham
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FLINT (WJRT) -- (09/07/09)--Monday saw a glimpse of hope on Labor Day as it was revealed it's possible for more work to come to Flint.

After thousands of jobs losses and plant closures this year alone, one local union leader remains optimistic a General Motors Corp. truck line may breathe new life again.

The medium-duty commercial line at Flint Truck Assembly closed up shop in July.

But Monday UAW Region I-C Director Duane Zuckschwerdt said it may be back in business.

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Walking alongside ABC12's Joel Feick at the UAW labor day picnic Monday, Zuckschwerdt had something to smile about.

"We've got some folks seriously looking at the medium duty," he said.

He won't say who or when or even how, but he is hopeful the line will be up and running again someday.

"I'm very hesitant, but I want to remain optimistic to try to keep it being made in Flint," he said. "It wouldn't be a GM product. It would be whoever picks it up from the bad assets column."

GM shut down production in July, impacting 400 workers. The automaker tried find a buyer for the line, which includes the Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick.

But after talks broke down with Navistar and Isuzu, GM decided to bring the line to an end.

But now that all could change.

"In this region we are always looking to get any kind of work we can get," Zuckschwerdt said.

"We've got the best workforce. We've got a highly skilled workforce and it's obvious GM isn't abandoning this area."

Meanwhile, the truck plant will continue to build the heavy-duty versions of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups as planned.