Update: GM family still cranking out cars
The extended Green family of Lansing, Michigan, has worked for GM for a combined total of more than 300 years.
September 6th, 2011
02:22 PM ET

Update: GM family still cranking out cars

Thanks to you, the Green clan is still cranking out cars in Lansing, Michigan.

CNN introduced you in November 2008 to 10 members of the family who had provided a collective 300 years of service to General Motors and the United Auto Workers union. GM's future was hanging in the balance as the federal government weighed whether to save the automaker with an infusion of billions of taxpayer dollars.

"We're not asking to be bailed out, we're asking for a loan," Mike Green, the president of UAW Local 652, said at the time. "We're not asking for a handout, we're asking for a hand up."

The $50 billion loan was approved, a new version of GM emerged, the taxpayers recouped their money, and the extended Green family kept working.

"I think the government made one of the best investments it ever made," Green, now 50, told CNN this week. "I'd like to thank the American public for having faith in an American company."

Green has been re-elected as president of UAW Local 652, his sister Cindy DeLau continues to work on assembly line ergonomic improvements, and his son Rollin, 26, is "hanging in" at GM's Delta Plant, just west of Lansing, despite having been laid off a couple of times in the last three years.

Painful concessions by the UAW were part of the survival plan, Mike Green noted.

"Because of the sacrifices of the membership, we made it through," he said.

Not only did GM survive, but it's bringing 600 to 700 more jobs to Lansing next year when production starts for a new Cadillac product.

"It's been good for Lansing," Green said. "We appreciate that GM is bringing work here. That's what we do here. You bring it, we'll build it."

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Filed under: Auto Industry • General Motors • Labor • Michigan
soundoff (86 Responses)
  1. banasy©

    Scottish Mama:
    Correct.
    Cheap imported steel, (cheaper in *every* way) drove the big mills under, not unions.

    September 6, 2011 at 8:48 pm | Report abuse |
  2. clearmind

    we have been a Ford family from my very first car. Demming was involved in making the Taurus and it shows. both of my childrens first cars were a Taurus. some Fords werent too good but overall you cant go wrong with one

    September 6, 2011 at 8:57 pm | Report abuse |
  3. PeeMan

    hey clearmind
    Liked your posts the other night
    Condolences to you my friend, chin up, you'll be with her again 🙂

    September 6, 2011 at 9:28 pm | Report abuse |
  4. RUFFNUTT (ELF SLAYER , LEADER OF GKOP alliance , FRIEND OF FROZEN VENGENCE , PURPLE KUSH SMOKER , 82 CAMARO OWNER , 69 FIREBIRD OWNER , AVID TURKEY HUNTER , NOS USER , MIKE PATTON FAN , AND TRAINER OF VERY SMALL DOGS THAT HAVE SIZE ISSUES)

    i like the new chevy cruize... i wish they made a 2door version...

    September 6, 2011 at 9:40 pm | Report abuse |
  5. banasy©

    @Ruffie:

    Could your u/n BE any longer?

    September 6, 2011 at 9:53 pm | Report abuse |
  6. banasy©

    @clearmind:
    Hello, sir, how are you?
    Good to see you here!

    September 6, 2011 at 10:00 pm | Report abuse |
  7. RUFFNUTT (ELF SLAYER , LEADER OF GKOP alliance , FRIEND OF FROZEN VENGENCE , PURPLE KUSH SMOKER , 82 CAMARO OWNER , 69 FIREBIRD OWNER , AVID TURKEY HUNTER , NOS USER , MIKE PATTON FAN , AND TRAINER OF VERY SMALL DOGS THAT HAVE SIZE ISSUES)

    NOPE THAT'S ABOUT AS LONG..AS IT GETS///

    September 6, 2011 at 10:09 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Mmmmm

    Get the defibrillator paddles and ressurect FDR's economic policies...

    September 6, 2011 at 10:28 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Michael

    Should of used their money more wisely, let them go under. Government stop bailing out corporations or companies. I understand that people will loose their jobs. But the only way we can make our country better is by weeding out the corrupt greedy individuals who plague it.

    January 2, 2013 at 9:41 pm | Report abuse |
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