Nine workers from United Autoworkers Local 977 at the General Motors plant in Marion have been called back to work beginning Monday, UAW Local President John Pence said.
Pence said those nine recalls come one week after 11 layoffs, in what has been a volatile employment situation at the plant in the 11 weeks since the beginning of a strike at American Axle & Manufacturing. The strike has affected dozens of GM plants across North America.
"We still have about 320 people laid off," Pence said. "We're playing it by ear."
That accounts for about 26 percent of the 1,220 UAW members who work at GM's Marion facility. The plant remains closed on second shift as well.
Alicia Kocher, spokeswoman for GM in Marion, said the employment level in Marion has remained relatively stable in recent weeks because of the recent uninterrupted production at GM's Fort Wayne plant, which Marion supplies.
Thursday is the final day for UAW members to accept a proposed buyout offer from GM.
Pence initially predicted 250 Marion workers would accept the plan. As of Friday morning, 202 had signed up for the buyout so far, he said.
"Traditionally, you have a number of people who wait until the last minute," Pence said.
Pence has been president of Local 977 since 2005 and will serve his final day in that position Wednesday because he has chosen to take the buyout.
"I'm excited about retiring," he said. "I had no idea three years ago when I took office the changes the auto industry would go through."
He cited two corporate buyouts, the first national GM strike in 30 years and the first major layoff at the Marion plant in 20 years
Two candidates are still competing to replace Pence as president, Larry Martz and Dave Walker. One election was already held, but a winner could not be determined because no candidate won 50 percent plus one vote.
A new round of voting will be open to members of Local 977 from 6 a.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday, Pence said, to elect one of two men as the union's new president.
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