Tennessee could soon feel Michigan’s pain when it comes to automotive jobs, and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker is trying to stop it.
Corker, a Republican freshman senator, has recently been arguing that General Motor’s Spring Hill plant should not be closed, even though it appears to be a likely member of the chopping block because GM plans to lay off 47,000 workers and close five plants by 2012. Spring Hill manufactures the Chevy Traverse midsize SUV, but sales have been below expectations. In addition, the plant builds four-cylinder “Ecotec” that are used in vehicles like the Chevy Malibu and Cobalt. Overall, the plant is operating at just 24 percent capacity.
What could be Tennessee’s loss, is potentially Michigan’s gain. The Delta Township plant near Lansing produces three GM vehicles that use the same platform as the Traverse. (It does not produce four-cylinder engines.) In addition, the plant is 500 miles closer to auto suppliers near metro Detroit than is the Tennessee plant. Should Spring Hill close, the plant would lay off 2,911 hourly workers, all of whom are members of the United Auto Workers.