Report: Documentary on closure of Ohio GM plant earns Oscar nomination [w/video]

Dan Roth — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, GM

HBO Documentaries' "The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant" - click above to watch video

Workers at General Motors' Moraine Assembly plant thought they had a couple years. That's what former company CEO Rick Wagoner had said when he announced the eventual shutdown of the plant back in June of 2008. Workers were expecting to continue building Chevrolet Trailblazers, GMC Envoys, and Saab 9-7Xs until 2010. While not good news, it was tempered by the timeline, allowing workers to search for alternate employment without as much panic.

That's not how things played out, however. In October 2008, it was announced that the last day for Moraine Assembly would be December 23 of that year. Merry Christmas. HBO Documentaries' The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant is an in-depth look at the effect the wind-down takes on the workers and their community. The film looks beautifully produced with a story woven in the compelling words of humanity. We're not the only ones who think so, either. It has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. There's a promo video after the jump so you can see what we're on about, and be sure to check HBO's schedule to see when it will air again.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Continue reading Report: Documentary on closure of Ohio GM plant earns Oscar nomination [w/video]

Report: Documentary on closure of Ohio GM plant earns Oscar nomination [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Merry Christmas: Envoy, Trailblazer, 9-7X plant closing Dec. 23rd

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Chevrolet, GMC, Saab, UAW/Unions

Looks like that Moraine, Ohio plant that was going to be shut down next year is actually going to be shuttered on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas. This is the plant responsible for production of the GMC Envoy, Chevy Trailblazer and Saab 9-7X. The General had already slowed the plant to just one shift as SUV sales, particularly sales of old SUVs like these, continue to tumble, but the plant was expected to remain open until at least early next year. On Friday the remaining 1,100 workers were gathered and told of the revised plan.

The closure isn't a total surprise, as General Motors had already announced that the Dayton-suburb plant would be closed so the company could focus more on production of small cars. That initial announcement seemed to indicate a 2010 closure, but the company has continually revised the closing date until this most recent word came. Moraine is one of four GM plants that are going to be shut down. When Janesville, Wis.; Oshawa, Ontario; and Toluca, Mexico join Moraine in closure, a total of 8,350 workers will be looking for new jobs.

[Source: Detroit News]

Merry Christmas: Envoy, Trailblazer, 9-7X plant closing Dec. 23rd originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments