Last Chevy Cruze expected to come off line Thursday morning
With production at GM Lordstown down to the final hours, several workers wrapped up their final shift today.
With production at GM Lordstown down to the final hours, several workers wrapped up their final shift Tuesday.
UAW Local 1112 leaders say the last Chevy Cruze is now expected to come off the line Thursday morning.
It made its way out of the paint shop Tuesday. The workers in that department clocked out for the last time.
A symbolic show of support is now set up outside the plant for workers. Several American flags line the Bailey Road overpass on the guardrail.
"I'm trying to do what little I can as an individual, a community resident, to try to keep this plant open because I know how vital it is," said Werner Lange said, community activist who set up the flags.
Some autoworkers leaving plant tell 21 News the mood inside the plant is somber right now.
"Sad, we're putting robots in repair positions and getting everything ready for shutdown," said Thomas Payne of Austintown.
The last Chevy Cruze is a base model and will be painted white. It heads to trim and chassis next.
The production line first used up all the parts to build the more expensive models first. The paint shop used the remaining colors one by one. The last vehicles to come down the line will be white base model Cruzes.
It's estimated 1,200 cars will be built this week and when the last one comes off the line; a driving force behind the Valley's economy will stop.
UAW local and regional leaders aren't calling this the end. They're waiting on the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the union against GM and union contract talks in September to find out if they can secure another future product for the Lordstown facility.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown says he spoke to the UAW international president about two weeks ago. While they remain hopeful, Brown said GM executives have been non-committal or worse in recent meetings.
He wants to see an electric car come to the Valley production line instead of that type of investment in Mexico.
"I'm not giving up," Brown said. "I know that the UAW's not giving up and the community's not giving up. Youngstown has won on these kinds of fights before and we keep fighting."
Union workers will gather outside the plant tomorrow at 2:30 pm to support their peers as most of them leave the plant not knowing if they'll ever go back.
