Washington  - Today Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) met with Frederick "Fritz" Henderson, President and CEO of General Motors Corporation, to discuss the future of the General Motors Plant in Wilmington, Delaware. Rep. Castle, in an effort to help protect jobs at the Wilmington plant, emphasized the plant's stellar workforce and history of quality production in making the case for bringing in new or overflow GM products.  As GM moves forward with plans for a company-wide restructuring, Rep. Castle also urged Mr. Henderson to consider alternatives to permanent plant closures, such as designating a plant as "idled" so as to leave open the possibility of bringing in future product.

Additionally, on Sunday May 3, 2009, Rep. Castle and other federal, state and local leaders, met with GM Boxwood Plant Manager, Bob Dolan, and Dave Myers, President, Local UAW 435 for an update on the status of the Wilmington Assembly Plant.

At today's meeting, Rep. Castle gave Mr. Henderson the following letter:

May 5, 2009

 

Mr. Frederick Henderson

President, Chief Executive Officer

General Motors Corporation

300 Renaissance Center

Detroit, MI 48265

 

Dear Mr. Henderson:

 

In the coming months, the management and employees of General Motors will be faced with numerous challenges.  No discussion will be more important and will have more personal consequence than the future of existing plants and personnel.  As part of the restructuring process, I strongly urge you to bring new or overflow GM product to Delaware so the Wilmington Assembly Plant may continue producing quality vehicles.  

As you consider how best to restructure the company for the future, I wanted to share several points for your consideration regarding the Wilmington Assembly Plant in Delaware:

The Wilmington Assembly Plant's workforce has long been distinguished for its stellar working relationship with GM management.  Plant Manager Bob Dolan and Local UAW 435 President Dave Myers lead the workforce in using a tested problem solving approach that has proven successful.  In fact, the Wilmington Assembly Plant has the lowest grievance count in the entire Corporation and is the only GM assembly plant with a "living agreement," saving GM countless resources and man hours.  

The Wilmington Assembly Plant has one of the best safety records in the entire Corporation.  The plant has over one million hours of operation without a lost workday, having reduced its lost work day cases by 84 percent from 2006 to 2008.  GM's Health & Safety Auditors have recognized the Wilmington Assembly Plant as one of the top plants in Electrical Safe Work Practices.     

The Wilmington Assembly Plant prides itself on producing the highest quality products.  Our plant is home to a modern and award winning paint shop, which has produced the best paint surface finish for the Corporation.  As a result, the Pontiac Solstice Coupe produced in Wilmington was named one of the top five most Beautiful Cars for 2009 by Autocraze and Car and Driver.  GM's Global Template for quality export requirements was also developed by the Wilmington Assembly Plant.
 
Finally, as you consider future car assembly plant decisions; please take a moment and compare the Wilmington Assembly Plant to others.  I think you will find that the Delaware Congressional delegation, the state and local government, and the plant's workforce are among the most responsive in the country.  As a small state, where leaders work together closely, we have a long history of being accommodative and receptive to the needs of companies like GM.

I hope you will make every effort to bring new or overflow GM product to the Wilmington Assembly Plant.  If indeed the Pontiac and Saturn lines are discontinued as a result of restructuring, I hope, at the very least, that you will consider placing the Wilmington Assembly Plant on an idle status, as opposed to permanent closure.

Simply put, the Wilmington Assembly Plant is home to a superior workforce and has done everything it can to make a successful, high quality vehicle.  As the restructuring moves forward, I hope to work with you to position the Wilmington Assembly Plant and General Motors to prosper.
 

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            Michael N. Castle

                                                            Member of Congress