UAW applauds Toyota’s decision to team up with Tesla at the NUMMI facility

The following statement can be attributed to UAW President Ron Gettelfinger:

"Yesterday’s announcement by Toyota and Tesla Motors Inc. that the companies will team up to manufacture an electric vehicle at the former New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, Calif., is welcome news for the state's economy and workers after the closing of this highly productive plant in March.

“On Tuesday of this week the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers was the lead sponsor for a summit on Auto Communities and the Next Economy, highlighting the importance of partnerships to revitalize our nation’s automotive communities and build on the skills of the automotive workforce. The decision by Toyota and Tesla to join together in this venture is exactly the type of partnership to spur growth in auto communities that the conference addressed.

“We appreciate the leadership demonstrated by Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota and Tesla CEO Elon Musk by investing in this community and worksite.
  
 "Our union's hope is that this venture will give first hiring preference to former NUMMI employees who are already trained and highly skilled.”