Fisker Plug-In Plant Will Be Union, UAW 'Essential' Says Company
By John O'Dell October 27, 2009
It wasn't clear from earlier statements but it is unequivocal now: Fisker Automotive plans to welcome the United Auto Workers Union with open arms if its deal to acquire a former GM plant in Delaware goes through as planned.
Avoiding unions is de rigeur for most new manufacturing enterprises in the U.S., but a company spokesman told Green Car Advisor this morning that Fisker is "looking to establish a mutually beneficial partnership with the UAW" as it opens its first U.S. assembly plant.
Fisker announced a few minutes ago that it has signed a letter of intent to buy the former Wilmington Assembly facility for $18 million and will refurbish and equip it to produce a new plug-in hybrid family sedan that will go into production in late 2012.
The area around the factory - which GM shuttered earlier this year as part of its bankruptcy reorganization - is home to thousands of skilled auto workers who belong to UAW Local 435.
Fisker has said that it expects to employ as many as 2,000 at the plant when it hits full capacity, and spokesman Russell Datz told us this morning that hiring a highly skilled UAW workforce "is essential" to the factory's success.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
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They will live to regret this decision... The union thugs have only one thing on their mind: making the union more powerful and wealthy, even at the expense of their union members (er, "dues payers") and the company ("the golden goose").
Good luck, Fiskar! You'll need it...
Just remember this when the union muscles their way onto the board...or threatens to shut you down just when things get going good to "re-negotiate" the contract. Picket lines, baseball bats and shady characters in black cars... they'll all be there.
Nice knowin' ya!
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