The company has difficulty finding enough workers to fill the summer positions.
General Motors is considering changing the way it vets new employees because of the difficulty in finding workers. According to the Detroit Free Press, the automaker is looking at changing how it vets new employees. This comes as one of GM’s most important plants, the Chevy silverado is having trouble finding temporary workers this summer.
Rich LeTourneau and Eric Welter, both UAW shop chairs, think that GM’s testing for marijuana use deters potential employees. GM must hire 450 part-time workers at Flint and 275 at Fort Wayne. Dan Flores, GM spokesperson, declined to discuss details with the reporters. Free Press He said that the recommendation was being “discussed internally” but that it is still being considered.
Legalization of medical marijuana is available in 36 states. Recreational use is permitted in 16 states, including Michigan, where GM’s Flint Assembly is located. GM uses hair samples to test pot. These specimens can be traced back for up to weeks. Welter stated to the publication that this could lead to younger applicants not showing up for interviews. The $16.67 hourly starting wage in the union contract is another issue that makes it difficult to recruit workers. This is on top of temporary status for new employees. The union contract stipulates that applicants must be flexible enough to work multiple shifts and may one day be hired as a full time employee.
GM and other automakers are having difficulty finding semiconductor chips to make their products. Due to a shortage of fuel, GM began building pickups last month. GM’s rival Ford was left with thousands of unfinished pickups. Over the past year, it has been one problem after the other for automakers.