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Lordstown unions to raffle millionth Cruze
By Kalea Hall
LORDSTOWN
After less than four years of producing the Chevrolet Cruze at the General Motors plant, the two United Auto Workers locals in Lordstown wanted to make sure the millionth Cruze was kept right here, where it was made with pride.
Together, the Local 1112 and Local 1714 leaders decided to purchase the red, millionth Cruze and raffle it off to both active and retired members of the unions.
“We have never bought one with the significance of the millionth vehicle,” said Glenn Johnson, president of Local 1112. “It was just real important to the local unions that this vehicle did not leave the Valley.”
Johnson was given the idea for the raffle from a member after seeing the buzz surrounding the production of the millionth Cruze in April. Then the union leaders moved forward with receiving approval to buy the Cruze through the union executive board.
“We worked through a local dealer to help us secure it and make sure it didn’t leave,” Johnson said.
Now, the unions are the proud owners of the Cruze until it makes its way to one of the 3,500 active or 12,000 retired members in Local 1112, or the 1,400 active or 3,000 retired members of Local 1714.
The raffle tickets are five tickets for $20 or $5 each. The proceeds from the sales will go toward paying for the purchase of the car, and then funds will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
“We are looking forward to a great campaign,” Johnson said. “They are an extremely worthy organization.”
Robert Morales, president of Local 1714, saw the raffle as a unique opportunity.
“A million Cruzes in less than four years,” Morales said. “That is something to be proud of.”
To be able to produce the millionth Cruze shows Morales that customers still believe in the car, he said. The raffle for the new Cruze will be in October.
Cruze May sales numbers released by General Motors beat the expectations and forecasts of auto analysts.
Cruze sales went up 41 percent from last year with 32,393 sold this May compared with 23,055 sold last May. The highest amount of Cruze sales is from June 2013 at 32,871, according to Vindicator files.