New shift at GM rolls out well; CEO plans visit

By HOLLY SCHOENSTEIN

The third shift ran without any hiccups, a GM spokesman said.

LORDSTOWN — Big news has poured from the General Motors Lordstown plant — twice over.

Company spokesman Chris Lee confirmed Monday that CEO Rick Wagoner is planning to visit the plant later this month but declined to give additional details.

The start of the highly anticipated third shift at the plant Sunday night could be the reason for his visit. And, according to Lee, the shift rolled without hiccups.

“It exceeded our expectations and was a good night,” Lee said. “It went exceptionally well.”

The third shift started as scheduled after the company trained about 1,400 workers for their new jobs over a six-week period. The group was a combination of new hires and transferring employees from other plants.

About 250 workers were designated as “vacation replacements” — temporary workers filling in for permanent workers who were taking time off. GM will decide whether to hire these workers permanently, based on business need, toward the end of the summer, Lee said.

Not every worker on the third shift was a new or transferring worker. Those who prefer to work the third shift can request a shift change, with the proper seniority.

Lee said GM filled all the positions for which it had been seeking talent.

Many have hoped the resurgence of the third shift will start a snowball effect within the local economy, including the real estate market.

Jerry Altobelli, owner of Altobelli Real Estate in Niles, said it will bring positive change to the Valley’s housing industry, but cautions that it will not happen overnight.

“Everybody thinks it’s going to happen in a week or a month, but it takes time. We’re not going to really feel the full effects of this for three to 12 months,” Altobelli said.

He estimated that out of 1,000 people who relocate to the area, about 60 of them will buy homes.

“It’s not going to be a thing that will turn our market around. It will give the market stability and a little more activity,” he said.

And for the struggling communities in the area, the positive impact is well received.

“In lieu of plant closings over the last four years and the scale-down of employees throughout the entire Valley, this particular addition of the third shift is a godsend,” Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien said. “Thanks to the hard work of unions and management of General Motors, the entire Mahoning Valley will be the recipient with the additional income to the Valley.”

hschoenstein@vindy.com