Union looks for someone to save plant

YSD can succeed with the right managers and equipment, a union official said.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
AUSTINTOWN -- Union officials at YSD Industries are hoping another company will appear and keep their plant open, but they consider it a long shot.
"We're not going to give up," said Don Manners, president of United Steelworkers of America Local 2301.
Global Railways Industries said recently that it intends to close the Henricks Road plant around Jan. 12, throwing about 90 people out of work. The plant has had continuing monthly losses, the Canadian company said.
The plant's previous owner issued a similar plant closing notice in January 2004, but Global Railways stepped in and bought the plant for $2 million three months later. In the meantime, union members approved a new labor contract that included a pay cut and changed work rules.
Manners said the timing of the recent closing announcement hurts chances that another company will want the plant. Manufacturers in the railroad industry place parts orders for the coming year by October, he said. It will be difficult at this point to secure orders for 2006, he said.
Positive outlook
Manners said he's confident, however, that the right management team could succeed at the plant, which makes doors for railroad cars.
He said the plant struggled under Global Railways because the company brought in some equipment that wasn't appropriate and sent some of its products to outside suppliers.
Global said it tried to make changes to make production more efficient, but the financial losses continued.
Manners said the union is open to forming an employee-owned company but hasn't had time to research that option yet.
The union has more than 200 members, but many have been laid off for most of the past five years.
"It's been tough. They've hardly worked at all," Manners said.
He said he met with international union officials Wednesday to discuss benefits that workers will receive if the plant is shut down. The labor contract provides for such benefits, he said.
Manners was to meet Thursday with the staff of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, to talk about job training or other benefits for workers.
shilling@vindy.com