BY NICKI MAYO
It’s the end of the “Big Block” V-8 engine era for General Motors workers in Western New York. The Tonawanda plant rolled its last L-18 V-8 engine off the line while laying off 150 assembly line workers. Nicki Mayo reports plant managers and union officials are looking for ways to bring the workers back to the assembly lines.
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“When I started here in 1968 there was talk about this engine leaving,” said Buffalo’s David Dougherty. “I retired in 2007 and it’s still here,” added General Motors retiree. Doughtery returned to the Tonawanda Powertain Plant for one last look at the “Big Block” L-18 V-8 engine. “I’m hoping that as this engine leaves that they get a couple more engines back to replace this one,” said Dougherty.
The L-18 makes up three percent of the Tonawanda plant’s annual production. Plant managers say this is the motor behind numerous GM powerboats, vehicles and memories.
“Our customers just love this product so much that they were not going to let it die,” said GM Tonawanda Plant Manager Steve Finch.
“Many of it is tied to General Motors from the products that we’ve done,” said Finch. He says “non-domestic” cars don’t tend to carry the same nostalgia with American car owners.
”That’s a tribute not only to the product but to those of you who have had a part in it to say ‘thanks,’” Finch added.
Plant workers pulled the last L-18 V-8 engine off the line and took turns signing their names to the final unit. This comes as General Motors signs off on 150 layoffs connected to the “Big Block” engines.
“We started out with a higher number and 50 of them will roll to other areas,” said United Auto Workers Local 774 Shop Chairman Bob Coleman. General Motors Tonawanda plant top brass say this is the end of a ‘remarkable era.’ Sill the grey cloud of layoffs looms around the plant. Union officials say they will do everything in their power to make sure those men and women find their way back on the assembly line.
“People are going out the door. Please remember we are going to do everything we can to bring you back to work,” said Coleman. Local 774 officials say the Tonawanda plant has had 298 layoffs this year. They hope to drive more motor business to Tonawanda.
“It is a sad day, but let’s make space for new motors and new product here,” Coleman said.
Seniority will play a major role in helping the displaced workers move to other assembly lines within the plant.
“People are very optimistic about maybe there’s a chance we could have some new work coming in the plant,” said plant employee Myron Chatman.
