While political leaders like President Trump and Congressman Tim Ryan are reacting positively to news that General Motors is in talks to sell its Lordstown Assembly Plant, the United Autoworkers union said it wants GM to keep the plant and make a new product there.

UAW Vice-President Terry Dittes issued a statement Wednesday in response to word that GM is working to sell the Lordstown operation to an Ohio company that wants to make electric trucks there.

In his statement, Dittes called the union's position "unequivocal," stating that GM should assign a product to Lordstown and continue operating it.

Following a gleeful tweet by President Trump, General Motors announced on Wednesday it is in discussions with Workhorse Group, Inc. and an affiliated, newly formed company to sell the company’s Lordstown Complex.

According to a statement from GM, the move has the potential to bring production and electric vehicle assembly jobs to the plant.

Upon final agreement, the entity, led by Workhorse founder Steve Burns, would acquire the facility. Workhorse would hold a minority interest in the new entity, according to GM.

“This potential agreement creates a positive outcome for all parties involved and will help solidify the leadership of Workhorse’s role in the EV community,” said Workhorse CEO Duane Hughes.  

Burns added, “The first vehicle we would plan to build, if we were to purchase the Lordstown Complex, would be a commercial electric pickup, blending Workhorse’s technology with Lordstown’s manufacturing expertise.”

“We remain committed to growing manufacturing jobs in the U.S., including in Ohio, and we see this development as a potential win-win for everyone,” said Mary Barra, GM Chairman, and CEO. “Workhorse has innovative technologies that could help preserve Lordstown’s more than 50-year tradition of vehicle assembly work.”  

Since last November, GM said it has been in discussions with the UAW regarding the impact of changing market conditions on the Lordstown facility. These discussions are being expanded to address this opportunity, according to GM.

The Lordstown sale would be contingent upon Workhorse winning a contract to produce electric vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service, according to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

 In its response, the UAW said a federal lawsuit filed by the union over the closing of the Lordstown, Baltimore, and Warren facilities is still pending, and the UAW will continue its effort to protect the contractual rights of its members at those locations.

Dittes says the UAW and GM will discuss the future of Lordstown during national negotiations which will begin in July of this year.

"We will monitor this situation as it develops to determine what course of action will most benefit UAW-represented workers at General Motors," said Dittes.

After speaking with Barra and Burns, Congressman Tim Ryan said the deal could be positive for the Valley.

"I worked as hard as possible to land another vehicle within the GM product line, but that shouldn’t damper the excitement around the possibility of producing in the Mahoning Valley the nation’s first union-made, all-electric truck." said Ryan. "The past couple of years have been painful and heartbreaking for our community. We’ve seen thousands of good-paying jobs lost as the third, second and eventually, last shift at GM Lordstown disappeared. While I remain positive for the Mahoning Valley’s long-term future, we are still picking up the pieces from a devastated local economy. But this proposed deal is much-needed and welcome news."

In addition to the Lordstown announcement,  GM also announced it is creating 450 new manufacturing jobs in Ohio at its facilities in Toledo, Moraine and Parma

Senator Sean O'Brien tells 21 News that Workhorse plans to hire 400 workers who will be UAW members, according to O'Brien.