On Labor Day Eve, GM CEO Akerson Extends Hand to Unions
September 02, 2010
By Michelle Krebs
In his first communication with employees, new General Motors CEO Dan Akerson relayed in a Labor Day letter extended his hand to the company’s unions and gave employees a pat on the back.
Akerson, officially installed this week as GM’s fourth CEO in 17 months, shared a conversation he had recently with UAW President Bob King and UAW Vice President Joe Ashton at the union’s downtown headquarters, known as Solidarity House.
“We agreed that, while we will not always see eye to eye on everything, GM will succeed to the extent that management and labor work together. I believe very deeply in that, Akerson wrote.
He added in the missive: “Coming from a union family, I know on a very personal level the good things that unions can do.”
Indeed, smooth labor relations will be a cricital element as GM tries to sell its Initial Public Offering. GM’s road show for its IPO pitch reportedly kicks off Nov. 3, the day after elections.
At the same time, as GM’s financial performance improves, the unions will be knocking at GM’s management door to win back some of what they gave up as part of the automaker’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year.
Ackerson’s message thPlease aanked employees for their commitment. “There will always be more hard work ahead of us, but because of your dedication, I have great optimism for GM’s future,” he concluded.
Michelle Krebs is Edmunds.com senior analyst and editor at large.
Photo by GM
Dan Akerson was officially installed Wednesday as GM’s CEO.
Posted by Michelle Krebs at 1:30 PM under Commentary , GM | Comments (1) | digg this | Seed Newsvine
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