GM CEO Mary Barra Won’t Receive Award After Recall Protest

The National Women’s History Museum was to honor General Motors CEO Mary Bara with the Katharine Graham Living Legacy Award at a ceremony held in Washington, DC, next Monday. It turns, after all, than not only won’t receive the award but won’t be attending the event at all.

The reason is that, according to a Detroit News report, family members of the 32 people that have been killed in accidents caused by GM’s faulty ignition switch, as well as 35 who have been hurt in similar incidents, strongly opposed Barra receiving the award.

The women’s organization confirmed the report, stating that the CEO won’t be receiving the award “at this time”. GM also issued a press release about the issue at hand.

“Out of respect for the National Women’s History Museum and the honorees, CEO Mary Barra will not attend the de Pizan Honors next Monday, November 17th,” GM said. “The decision was made to ensure that attendees can focus on recognizing the achievements of American women — past and present.”

“We feel victorious”, said Laura Christian, the mother of 16-year old Amber Marie Rose who was killed in a 2005 crash in a Chevrolet Cobalt, an accident related to the faulty switch that led to a massive recall of 2.59 million vehicles last February.

“While we recognize that Mrs. Barra is the first woman to be named CEO of an American auto company, her first year in this position is only credited with one record so far: a record number of vehicle safety recalls connected to nearly 32 deaths and thousands of injuries”, wrote Christian to the congressional co-chairs associated with the museum’s event.

Barra insisted that she learned about the recall, which affected Chevrolet Cobalts, Pontiac G5s, Saturn Ions and other small cars in the General’s portfolio on January 31, after she became GM’s CEO.

In spite of that, she has been called to testify before Congress four times about GM’s safety record. This award would be the first silver lining in the dark cloud still looming over her by the recall but it appears she will have to wait a bit longer…