GM ‘LIKELY’ TO BUILD IN CHINA AS U.S. FACTORIES CLOSE

General Motors Corp., shuttering U.S. plants in a bid to avoid bankruptcy, is “likely” to build a new factory in China on surging demand. “Operations in China are profitable and in the future China can finance its own growth,” Nick Reilly, the company’s Asia-Pacific president, said at the Shanghai auto show today. He didn’t give a timeframe for the new plant. GM, the biggest overseas automaker in China, boosted sales in the country 38 percent last month as government stimulus measures spurred demand for its minivans. By contrast, the company’s U.S. sales slumped 45 percent on the recession, as it battles to convince the U.S. government that it’s still viable.

Anyone out there hear any complaints* from the United Auto Workers about GM building a plant in China? After all, GM is outsourcing “our” jobs for much cheaper labor in China. Hmmm? I “wonder” why the deafening silence from the UAW? Perhaps…perhaps…perhaps it’s because now that the UAW owns 17.5% of General Motors, they are beginning to understand the concept of keeping a company’s manufacturing costs (which obviously include labor) down to increase profits for the shareholders (in this case, themselves). So much for a Union’s “concern” for workers.

Welcome, United Auto Workers, to the wonderful, efficient world of capitalism.
_________________________________
*Of course, the UAW was furious two years ago when GM opened a new plant in China—long before the UAW became a part-owner of GM.