The United Auto Workers Union is criticizing General Motors after it laid off 1,000 workers at its Factory ZERO plant in Detroit, Michigan. The automaker then added 50 new robots to the assembly line.
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What Are the Robots at the General Motors Plant Doing?
As reported by NewsNation, GM is calling the machines "cobots," or collaborative robots. They help the employees who still work at the plant attach body panels to vehicles. In addition, artificial intelligence helps the cobots detect production issues early, anticipate maintenance needs, and improve safety.
"We've been installing cobots across our manufacturing footprint as part of a broader push to bring more advanced technology into our operations," said GM spokesperson Kevin Kelly in a statement. "At Factory ZERO, we are implementing them alongside our team, helping improve safety and ergonomics, while keeping our operations flexible and competitive."
However, the president of UAW Local 22, James Cotton, believes the real safety concern is robots working next to people. The union has filed grievances. Cotton added that he is "disgusted" that the cobots are now working in the plant.
"Our manpower is being taken away from us," he said.
GM Says the Lay-Offs Are Temporary
At a union convention in the Motor City, Shawn Fain, the national UAW President, said that autoworkers are "in a fight for humanity." He added that AI shouldn't be used to keep gains away from humans doing the work.
However, GM says that the recent lay-offs are temporary. Still, the automaker has not shared if or when workers will return to assembly line.
GM has been moving toward automation for several months. For example, it recently entered into a deal with MVIDA for factory robotics. At an event last year, the company's CEO, Mary Barra, said that AI allows GM to "build smarter vehicles while empowering our workforce to focus on craftsmanship."
Other automakers have followed suit. For instance, Toyota is introducing humanoid robots at its RAV4 plant in Canada. BMW is also expanding its own robot program.
