Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 15, 1991 TAG: 9103150153
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
Also, plant manager John Bryant will be replaced next week by Volvo's director of purchasing, Frank Adams.
"Believe it, or believe it not, it had nothing to do with the [strike] situation," Bryant said.
Bryant, who's headed the plant for five years, will return to his native England on April 7 to take an executive position with a British truck manufacturer. He declined to identify the company, saying its employees have not been notified.
Bryant said he gave his notice to Volvo before the strike began on March 8. He'd been offered the job when he went home for Christmas.
Adams will take over as plant manager Monday. He has been with Volvo management since 1977, when he started work at the Dublin plant.
Bryant said the change in leadership would likely have no effect on the strike. "Management policy has never been set by one person alone," he said.
Bill Brubaker, production manager and spokesman during the strike, said orders for 123 trucks would be sent to Volvo's Ohio plant and for 112 trucks to the Utah factory.
"This is just a short-term thing because of the immediate problem," he said. "This is to take care of next week. I can't say what we're going to do if the strike continues."
Brubaker said the company officials would decide week to week how to handle their remaining orders.
United Auto Workers Union officials could not be reached for comment.
The Ohio and Utah plants were slated to reduce daily production - from a total of 30 to 24 trucks - resulting in temporary and permanent layoffs there, Brubaker said.
But Volvo officials delayed the cutbacks because of the strike in Pulaski County, now in its seventh day.
The Dublin plant turned out 36 trucks daily before the strike. Brubaker said the assembly line has been shut down all week, and no trucks have been manufactured.
Some of the 350 salaried workers at the plant have been temporarily reassigned to do testing and repair work, he said.
He also said that "informal negotiations" between union representatives in Detroit and Volvo officials at the plant continue over the phone.
Federal mediators have been contacted, "but they have not been asked to assist or mediate. Basically, we're just keeping them apprised of the situation," Brubaker said.
by CNB