by GM installs new robots at plant where over 1,000 workers were laid off
It seems some robots at the GM Factory Zero plant are getting better treatment than the humans working alongside them. Weeks after GM scaled back its electric vehicle commitments and laid off over 1,000 workers at the site, the company began installing more collaborative robots on the assembly line.
This move comes as more automakers turn to automation and artificial intelligence to reduce labor costs and keep production in the domestic market, and GM is no exception.
Union expresses concern over new ‘cobots’
According to James Cotton, president of the local UAW Local 22 chapter representing the plant’s workers, GM has added approximately 50 new “cobots.” These machines work directly alongside people, attaching various parts to vehicles on the production line. Cotton claims they are taking jobs away from those he represents.
He identified the new devices as Fanuc cobots and stated that union members are “outraged” by their growing presence at the plant.
“It’s always a concern when you see a robot arriving at the plant, especially after they laid off over a thousand people,” he told Crain’s Detroit. “They say it’s the wave of the future, and if that’s the case, they’re taking people’s jobs away.”
Cotton also reported that the union has filed grievances against GM over the deployment of the robots and expressed concerns about the machines operating in close proximity to people.
GM’s position and challenges for the union
GM spokesperson Kevin Kelly stated that the robots are being installed as part of the company’s efforts to integrate more advanced technology into its operations. GM also noted that the robots help improve safety and ergonomics, while maintaining “flexibility and competitiveness” in its operations. The automaker confirmed that dozens of these units were recently added to the plant as part of a broader automation strategy.
To better protect the workers it represents, the UAW may need to strengthen the language in its contracts regarding robots. The current agreement includes a clause on “Implementation of Advanced Technologies.” Wayne State University professor Marick Masters says the UAW “will have to address this [contract language] more decisively than it has so far.”
Working hours cut in half
Masters told Crain’s Detroit that the number of work hours required to produce a car has decreased by approximately 50 to 70 percent since the 1980s, calling automation a disruptive trend whose full impact remains unclear.
The plant’s future and 2028 negotiations
The GM Factory Zero plant, formerly known as the Detroit-Hamtramck facility, was modernized several years ago to produce exclusively electric vehicles. However, due to limited demand for EVs in the U.S., the site has seen shifts cut and workers laid off. Production has also been repeatedly paused. This issue is expected to be a major topic during UAW contract negotiations in 2028.
“We are currently experiencing one of the most profound technological revolutions in our lifetime with artificial intelligence, the threat of humanoid robotics, and mass automation,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “This is a serious threat and challenge to our way of life, our economy, and our political system.” Fain added: “We must clearly recognize this. We are fighting for humanity.”
The situation at Factory Zero is a stark example of the tension that arises when technological progress collides with workers’ interests. While GM emphasizes increased efficiency and safety, the union sees it as a direct threat to jobs. This conflict is likely to become central in future negotiations, and how the parties manage to find a balance between automation and job preservation will determine not only the future of this particular plant but also the entire U.S. automotive industry.
