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Chevy Cobalt production boosted by overtime in Lordstown, Ohio
(Vindicator (Youngstown, OH) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
Sep. 5--LORDSTOWN -- General Motors is asking its midnight shift workers at its Lordstown complex if they would come in for extra Saturday hours so it can pump out more cars to dealers.
"We're trying to work as much overtime as we can so we can satisfy demand," said Chris Lee, a GM spokesman.
The complex has overtime scheduled the next four Saturdays, although the number of shifts will vary.
Only two shifts had been scheduled for this Saturday, but GM has determined it needs to boost production further.
The plant produces about 500 cars a shift.
The added production stands to be welcomed by dealers that sell the Chevrolet Cobalt made at the plant.
U.S. sales of the Cobalt fell by 27 percent last month, but a local car dealer said that was because supply was low.
Barry Gonis, general manager of Spitzer Chevrolet in North Jackson, said he couldn't get enough cars to sell in August because of strong sales in previous months. He said he is carrying more than three times his normal inventory of Cobalts in September so he can meet customer demand.
Lee said demand for the Cobalt remains strong because of high gasoline prices, so GM wants to keep the Lordstown plant running as much as it can.
GM is asking for midnight workers to volunteer for overtime Saturday because of national labor contract rules. Mandatory overtime can be scheduled, but the contract has restrictions on how many consecutive Saturdays a workers can be required.
In order to fill all three shifts this Saturday, workers had to be surveyed to see if they would volunteer, Lee said.
The midnight shift was added in August in order to boost production of the Cobalt. Previously, the plant worked occasional overtime Saturdays when it needed more cars. Now, the plant needs both the extra shift and the Saturday overtime in order to meet demand.
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Copyright (c) 2008, Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio
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