Explorer Lay Offs Nearing End
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
On April 21, about 150 workers at Explorer Vans were laid off when the company ran out of General Motors and Chevrolet vans to convert. The lack of vans is related to the United Auto Workers strike by American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.[[In-content Ad]]April's layoff was Explorer Vans' first in its 27 years of production.
Thursday, Explorer Van President Steve Kesler said that since the General Motors plant in Wentzville, Mo., has acquired parts and will resume production of vans, Explorer workers could begin returning to work near the end of May.
Currently, remaining Explorer Van workers are converting one or two vans per day, but that number should increase to about five a day beginning May 26.
Kesler said he hopes the company will gradually increase production to its normal 13 vans a day in June.
"We're not out of the woods just yet," Kesler said, adding that he is optimistic about the possibility of resuming full operations soon.
While the American Axle strike has not ended, the Wentzville plant reportedly acquired some needed parts and production of new vans, trucks and SUV on the first shift will begin soon.
Workers at that plant were laid off in March because of the parts shortage caused by the strike.
According to an article in the Detroit Free press, GM spokesman Dan Flores said the company can resume production because it has enough components. He could not say how GM has been able to secure the parts for the plant that makes the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans.
Flores also said second-shift workers in Wentzville will return to work May 19 if parts are available.
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On April 21, about 150 workers at Explorer Vans were laid off when the company ran out of General Motors and Chevrolet vans to convert. The lack of vans is related to the United Auto Workers strike by American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.[[In-content Ad]]April's layoff was Explorer Vans' first in its 27 years of production.
Thursday, Explorer Van President Steve Kesler said that since the General Motors plant in Wentzville, Mo., has acquired parts and will resume production of vans, Explorer workers could begin returning to work near the end of May.
Currently, remaining Explorer Van workers are converting one or two vans per day, but that number should increase to about five a day beginning May 26.
Kesler said he hopes the company will gradually increase production to its normal 13 vans a day in June.
"We're not out of the woods just yet," Kesler said, adding that he is optimistic about the possibility of resuming full operations soon.
While the American Axle strike has not ended, the Wentzville plant reportedly acquired some needed parts and production of new vans, trucks and SUV on the first shift will begin soon.
Workers at that plant were laid off in March because of the parts shortage caused by the strike.
According to an article in the Detroit Free press, GM spokesman Dan Flores said the company can resume production because it has enough components. He could not say how GM has been able to secure the parts for the plant that makes the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans.
Flores also said second-shift workers in Wentzville will return to work May 19 if parts are available.
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