GM Issues Media Black-Out For Ellesmere Port
GM has turned its Ellesmere Port plant into “a no-go area for media amid ongoing speculation over its future,” says The Guardian. Staff and suppliers have been told to avoid reporters. “Attempts to photograph Astras awaiting delivery at the site’s distribution centre prompt a visit from security guards who ask the Guardian to desist,” says the paper.
There are 2,800 workers in the plant itself and some 7,000 workers in the supply chain that would lose their jobs when Ellesmere Port closes. No wonder that media attention is high.
Vauxhall does not think that job losses are unsettling, media attention is. A statement by Vauxhall that explains the media shutdown says:
“To be and stay competitive is key in the automotive manufacturing environment, where a plant’s performance is tightly measured. The Ellesmere Port plant is very competitive and we need to make sure our employees are able to focus on the job in hand to maintain this. Negative media speculation perpetuating over the last weeks is far from helpful and we therefore do not welcome media speculating on the plant’s future on our premises.”
Meanwhile in Germany, the meeting of Opel’s supervisory board ended with a virtual lockout of the media. Reporters were fobbed-off with a non-statement that says:
“All involved agree that Opel must work in a profitable manner and must undertake efforts to increase sales, to improve margins and to reduce costs.“
Amen.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Too late to close your kimona, GM.
In other news, GM breaks ground in China on new factory to employ 100K Chinese for the price of 3000 UK workers.
GM already announced the plant is on the bubble, beats me why any employee or supplier would care to comply with GM's directive.
GM's gonna buy out the union bosses.