GM Lordstown plans new ‘flex-time’ hiring

By Karl Henkel | December 5, 2011 at 12:05a.m.

Green

LORDSTOWN

General Motors Co. Lordstown will hire additional workers by the end of the year, but they won’t be the typical full-time, entry-level or temporary employees.

Dave Green, United Auto Workers Local 1714 president, said the fabrication plant plans to hire 15 new workers by the end of the month under a new “flex-time” label that was agreed upon in the latest local contract negotiations.

“We’ve never done this locally,” Green said. “We’re trying to stay as competitive as we can to make sure the facility stays open as long as it can.”

Flex-timers will be most similar to current entry-level employees and will earn the standard Tier 2 rate of about $14 an hour.

The difference is that they will work 32 hours a week — on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays — instead of the full-time 40 hours.

Green said the benefits of a flex position, as opposed to temporary employment, is better job security and the opportunity for full-time employment.

Flex-timers will not be eligible for benefits, but after 1,040 hours of service, will be eligible to become full-time, entry-level employees with benefits.

“Once they work [1,040] hours, they’ll be considered full time,” Green said.

The “flex employee” category was first introduced by the national UAW in the 2007 agreement.

Green said temporary employees, which differ from flex employees in that they can be terminated intermittently, will not necessarily get preferential consideration for a flex position.

According to the national contract, even if a temporary employee has amassed enough hours to be considered full-time, entry-level employment, “there will be no credit given toward acquring seniority.”