GM puts money on the Arlington line

Top General Motors executives spoke loudly Tuesday about their confidence in the future of the company’s assembly plant in Arlington — $1.4 billion worth of confidence, the automaker’s largest single plant investment this year.

It’s been clear for many years that GM likes Arlington. It’s the company’s only plant that builds full-size sport utility vehicles — the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade.

And what’s not to like? Sales of the popular vehicles have been strong enough to keep the plant running three shifts a day.

But Cathy Clegg, GM’s vice president of North American Manufacturing and Labor Relations, pointed to another reason the company has a strong affinity for Arlington. The timing of Tuesday’s announcement was significant.

“Today’s investment will contribute to Arlington Assembly’s winning tradition marked by strong customer focus, innovative thinking and teamwork,” Clegg said in a prepared statement.

Pay particular attention to her last word: teamwork.

She was talking about how well GM and the United Auto Workers get along in Arlington. The plant has a long-running reputation for the dedication and problem-solving skills of its workforce.

It’s significant that GM made its Arlington announcement the day after it began bargaining in Detroit on a new contract with the UAW. The current contract expires Sept. 14.

The $1.4 billion will pay for a new paint shop, body shop and general assembly area upgrades, work that’s expected to begin this summer and take about three years to complete. The money also says, “We’re proud of you, Arlington.”

The UAW joined in. “These investments,” said UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, head of the union’s GM department, “represent the power of our collaboration to create jobs and improve competitiveness, quality and our manufacturing base in this country.”

The feel-good atmosphere probably won’t carry over to the contract bargaining table, where the company and the union have competing goals. But it’s a good start.

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "GM puts money on the Arlington line."