Lordstown changes schedule for workers

Workers will no longer be paid for their lunch hour.
LORDSTOWN -- When members of United Auto Workers at the General Motors assembly and fabricating plants here return from a two-week shutdown that starts July 1, they'll be working a slightly different schedule.
In the past, the UAW members had a paid lunch break, but that changes. When they return to work July 17 they'll be at the plant for 81/2 hours, but be paid for only eight, unless they work overtime.
The following shift schedules will be in effect starting then: The first shift will start at 6:30 a.m., break from 9 to 9:23 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon, second break from 1:30 to 1:53 p.m. and quit time at 3 p.m.
The second shift will start at 4:30 p.m., break from 7 to 7:23 p.m., lunch from 9:30 to 10 p.m., second break from 11:30 to 11:53 p.m. with quit time at 1 a.m.
July 17 also will mark the first day without a third shift.
UAW has notified its members that employees required to work other than those times will be notified by management.
Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112 at the assembly plant, offered an update on the number of employees taking the retirement and buyout offered by GM. So far, 530 workers have decided to take it. The deadline to apply is June 23, and the offer is available to all of the 3,400 workers at the plant.
Effective June 5, hourly rate employees will receive an increase of 19 cents per hour as part of the automatic cost-of-living increase.