A kick in the stomach': massive GM layoffs leave workers distraught - and angry

[turbinetree]

Lordstown, Ohio, was defined by its General Motors plant. Now workers say job cuts threaten the lives they’ve built

There’s a sign outside the General Motors assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, that reads: “GM, We Invested in You. Now It’s Your Turn to Invest in US.”

Ever since the US’s largest car company’s immense assembly plant opened here 52 years ago, it has dominated this blue-collar town. Now GM workers here are furious that the automaker plans to idle – and perhaps permanently close – the plant.

GM stunned its workforce on 26 November, the Monday after Thanksgiving, by announcing it would cut roughly 14,000 jobs and idle five factories in North America, including the Lordstown plant, which employs 1,600 workers. One factor stoking the workers’ ire is that GM’s move came after American taxpayers rescued it from bankruptcy with a $49.5bn federal bailout in 2009.

While some have blamed Trump policies for the closure, or at least for his inability to stop them, it’s the company that workers hold most responsible.

“Their announcement was really a kick in the stomach,” said Danny Adams, who has worked at the plant since 1996. “It’s not woe is me. It’s woe is us.”

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/27/general-motors-ohio-auto-car-layoffs

-snip-


Many workers suspect that GM announced that it was leaving Lordstown “unallocated” rather than closing it outright in order to pressure the UAW to grant some concessions in next year’s contract negotiations to help persuade GM to keep the plant open.

If that’s GM’s tactic, Adams isn’t buying it. “That’s 100% union-busting,” he said. “They’re just trying to make us beg.”

While the workers feel anger, they also feel a lot of pride. They’re proud that the Cruze and the high marks it received helped restore GM’s reputation after the 2009 bankruptcy. “When we heard the news in November, we went right back to our jobs,” Allein said. “We give 100%. We didn’t give up. I don’t think anybody is ready to give up. No one wants to believe that this is it for Lordstown.”

[gratuitous]

1. Didn't those tax cuts trickle down enough?

Shocking that GM and its executives would just pocket that extra money and not be showering it on the workers who generate the wealth that already lines their overstuffed pockets. Have President Trump, Majority Leader McConnell, and House Speaker Ryan been informed that GM isn't following the tax cut script they sold to the American people?

[sdfernando]

10. Oh, THAT script was just for the rubes you know!

the real script is being followed with glee.

Hoping I really don't need this:

[Botany]

2. And how many of those Ohio GM workers voted for Trump in 2016?

n/t

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. Lots and lots. I dont know if they understand yet that not only does

rump care nothing at all, absolutely nothing about them or their jobs, but he doesnt know anything AT ALL about the economy or anything AT ALL about business.

[MyOwnPeace]

5. Not "quite" true..................

He DOES care about business - the TRUMP business - no matter what country it is in - if it has the name TRUMP on it, he cares and will make "the deal" with whatever devil runs that country.

[Eliot Rosewater]

7. He cares, he just has no clue how it works, especially his or any business.

What he knows is

a. dont pay contractors or their subs

b. do what putin tells him to do

c. hire someone who knows about business - and he has failed at this also, ALL of his go bankrupt eventually

[MyOwnPeace]

8. Got THAT right!

as IQ45 said: “I’m going to surround myself only with the best and most serious people. . . . We want top of the line professionals.”

So, just when ARE they going to report for work?

[Eliot Rosewater]

9. It is abundantly clear now he has no clue how to do anything, at all, period.

Nothing.

Certainly not business. This is why he had to launder oligarch money, which he also doesnt fully understand how it works so he just does what the enemies of America tell him to do.

[Demsrule86]

4. I worked with the Lordstown hourly...I can assure you, most of them worked their

asses off for Democrats. They work right out of the union hall...I started working elections in the area in 08 when we moved into the district and was there for 16 as well. I was in Cleveland this year.

[renate]

11. Thank you for telling us this

It’s easy to assume that Ohio workers = Trump voters, but it ain’t necessarily so.

[Demsrule86]

14. No many saw Trump for the liar he was.

[blueinredohio]

13. I retired from a G.M. plant in 2013 I can tell you there are some who vote democratic but

it would surprise you how many don't. They are so brain washed they can't see that republicans want to shut down unions. Before I retired in one of the contract negotiations they wanted to get rid of retiree health care. We were the only plant that voted it down but we had a lot of older people who knew we were going to be out there soon. Needless to say it passed, we got money to invest so when the market crashes we are ass out. So I have a hard time feeling sorry for them.

[Botany]

15. I'm sure that many GM workers @ the Lordstown, OH plant voted blue but I am sure you had ....

.... @ least 25 to 30% who voted for the GOP and some no doubt attended Trump rallies
because after all Obama is a n*****r and Hillary is a d**e bitch. I know I work around
these people all the time and they are racist as they come except for the African Americans
who play for the Browns, Bengals, Cavs, and the Buckeyes.

[guillaumeb]

6. Ohio voters supported Trump.

Actions have consequences.


Believing Trump's lies and voting for the GOP also has consequences.

[Javaman]

12. I guess GM is just to tired of winning in the orange assholes economy

that they figured it's time to close up shop.

[lindysalsagal]

16. What? Ohio wanted 45 to blow up government, but save their auto plant? Like OBAMA DID???

BUT, I thought everything obama did was wrong?????? HHHmmmmm???????