VIENNA Intier to hire Lear workers

Intier Automotive Seating has promised to hire 179 workers.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Workers who may be laid off from Lear Seating Corp. will have first crack at jobs with the company that will take Lear's place as a supplier to General Motors Lordstown Assembly Plant.
"A commitment has been made after looking at the situation closely to hire any displaced Lear employees first," said Simon Kew, general manager of Intier Automotive Seating, which has a contract to produce seats for GM's new Cobalt.
Tax break
On Wednesday, Trumbull County commissioners approved a tax break for a factory Intier plans to build in Vienna Township.
Under the agreement, already approved by township trustees, for 10 years Intier will not have to pay 60 percent of the real and personal property taxes that would normally be due on their projected $12.5 million investment.
In return, the company has pledged to hire 179 employees.
Lear Seating employs 300 union members in its Lordstown plant to make seats for Lordstown-built Cavaliers, said Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers 1112. That car model is being phased out.
"Lear is also going to, hopefully, get some more work," Graham said.
Lear's Lordstown factory was completed less than 10 years ago, and is still covered under a 10-year, 50 percent tax abatement commissioners approved in 1993. The lion's share of the tax money would have gone to the local school district.
The company invested $10.2 million and promised to create 35 jobs and retain 240 jobs that had been at the GM plant, planning commission records say.
Mayor's contention
With the jobs relocating to Vienna, Lordstown Mayor Arno Hill said he believes his community is getting the short end of the stick.
"What community gave anything up to keep GM here?" Hill said after the meeting. "We did."
Commissioners said a tax abatement for Intier is in the county's best interest.
"The most important point is we are going to keep jobs here in Trumbull County," Commissioner Joseph J. Angelo said.
siff@vindy.com