CCN: Some use the term “reinvention” when looking at
CCN: This is a critical issue for Michigan and across the country.
Chrysler] called it “rebranding” from the UAW point of view,
that?
Michigan.
General Holiefield [vice president of the UAW-
and the Michigan Labor-Management Association confer-
Without giving any secrets away, what’s the response regarding
ence theme scheduled in April refers to “restoring dialog.” As
JA: I think for the first time, General Motors is taking a long look,
UAW today?
Lake Orion was scheduled to be built in Korea, and they sat down
the vice president of the UAW-GM, how do you see the
JA: I think all three statements, whether we say it’s reinvention, rebranding or restoring conversation, are all important elements in
the new UAW. I think it’s important to continue to have dialogue
with General Motors. They have taken an initiative with their new CEO Dan Akerson to continue to have ongoing dialogue with the UAW leadership. Because it’s so important for the UAW to be successful, whether it’s at Ford, Chrysler or General Motors,
like they did with Lake Orion. The vehicle that they’re building in
with us, and we worked out an agreement to have that vehicle built here. And we’re also looking at bringing trucks that normally have been built in Mexico in the past back here to be built. We can
be competitive now; our quality is second to none. We have an experienced workforce and we know that we can do a better job
than anybody else. And that’s whether it’s General Motors, Ford or Chrysler.
those companies have to be successful also, and we saw in the past
CCN: Compare if you would, what’s going on today with what
Their share of the industry is up; people are looking more at the
differences?
several months a real turnabout with Ford and General Motors.
American brands. Their quality now is competitive with any brand,
it was like 10, 15, 20 years ago. What are some of the major
and I think we are taking a step in the right direction. And I think
JA: I think one of the major differences is competition. There’s
to show the American public that not only the company, but the
there was 10 years ago. Ten years ago, our competition was with
to continue to do so, we have to have that dialogue and we have
UAW and its members also have a stake in the success of these companies.
CCN: The past few years have been a rollercoaster, especially on the Big Three, with the economy and the bankruptcies; what’s it been like for the UAW and GM?
JA: Well, needless to say, it’s been a very, very difficult period.
I think the leadership of Ron Gettelfinger and the previous Vice President Cal Rapson did a tremendous job by sitting down and negotiating an agreement to keep us out of absolute
destruction. We were heading for bankruptcy, and the bail-
so much more competition than there was 20 years ago, than
the Japanese companies. Now the new competition is going to be with the Korean companies and also the German companies,
which are coming back into the picture. There are so many
brands out there that your brand has to stand out. And I think
with the engineering that Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been doing, it is giving us a step forward. I think the orders for General Motors’ premier electrical vehicle speak for themselves. I
think the orders far exceeded what General Motors thought and what any analyst projected, and I think that kind of technology and the quality that we are building in our vehicles is going to set us apart.
out enabled us to continue to operate. And since that’s hap-
CCN: Can you speak to customer service? And when I talk about
Motors has done something that they have never done before, or
customer but also the internal customers. In other words, every
pened, we have several success stories. We need more. General
haven’t done in many years, and that’s to decide to build a small vehicle in Michigan, in Lake Orion. That saved thousands of jobs, not only in building that vehicle but also the suppliers. And
“customer service,” I’m talking not only in terms of the external
employee is one another’s customer. Have you seen a shift or a different way of thinking regarding customer service?
that’s the thing we are looking for. We had to be innovative in
JA: There has to be. That’s why quality is so important. Quality
put more and more jobs back in the states. That’s what it’s about.
as more or less one of the main issues. We have an obligation
that agreement and we are looking to convince the companies to That’s what the upcoming negotiations are going to be about —
only to bring jobs back to Michigan, but also to bring jobs back throughout the country.
www.customercarenews.com
to the American public to build the best cars available. Also, to give customers the best service available, because we know now,
Spring 2011
jobs. Jobs, jobs and jobs: those are our three highest priorities. Not
used to be an issue that the company and the UAW perceived
statistically, that if you get a good vehicle and good service, seven
times out of 10 you’ll buy another vehicle from the company again.
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