General Motors (GM) and Jack Cooper Transport have ended their long-standing relationship after contract negotiations broke down late Friday, leading the nearly century-old vehicle hauling company to initiate a winding down of operations with an anticipated loss of 2,500 jobs. Following intense negotiations that lasted about 24 hours and culminated at around 11 p.m. Friday, GM abruptly resumed shipments of its new vehicles using alternate haulers the next day, according to insiders familiar with the situation. This decision came after GM had previously enforced a stop-shipment order on Thursday to avoid risking its new inventory being stranded during the negotiations. Both parties have exchanged blame regarding the termination of their 97-year partnership. After losing its secondary contract with Ford Motor Co. last month, Jack Cooper sought a better agreement with GM but faced difficulties securing additional funding. GM spokesperson Kevin Kelly commented that they were informed of Jack Cooper's decision to unilaterally halt services, thus compelling GM to implement contingency plans. This decision will impact a significant portion of Jack Cooper's workforce, with nearly 1,000 jobs linked directly to GM operations. Amidst the layoffs, efforts are being made to assist affected employees in finding new positions. Throughout its history with GM since 1928, Jack Cooper has been recognized for its contributions, having won the Supplier of the Year award multiple times. The recent developments have sparked concerns among union representatives regarding the future of union jobs as negotiations continue with potential new haulers, ensuring that union protections remain in place.
