Workers react calmly to closure possibility

Employees are split on how real the threat of closing is.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
LORDSTOWN -- General Motors' demands for concessions don't seem to anger workers at the Lordstown complex as much as they used to.
Workers interviewed outside the plant Wednesday said they understand that working in the auto industry today means living under the threat that your plant will be closed.
"They are always hanging something over your head," said Elliott Haines, 53, of Austintown, who has 27 years at the plant.
Haines and others, however, spoke without anger.
"It's the way the industry is today," a worker who wanted to remain anonymous said calmly. "They are a business. They're not your family. They don't care about you that much."
When GM was pushing for concessions in the 1990s, workers spoke with more emotion about not wanting to give back contract provisions won at the bargaining table.
Although workers today seem resigned to the constant pressure for cost cuts from GM, they are split on how real the current threat of closing is.
The plant is scheduled to make the Cobalt only until midyear 2009, and union officials have said the complex is "very vulnerable" to being closed because GM isn't making money on the Cobalt.
Bluff or not?
"I think they're trying to scare us right now," said Jeff Yaratch, 38, of Lake Milton, who has worked at the plant eight years.
He said he thinks the union will agree to some concessions that will keep the plant open.
Ernie Magana, 36, of Austintown, said he wasn't so sure that this is a bluff.
"This time, I don't know. It's scary," he said.
Magana has 10 years of service and is hoping GM and union officials can reach a deal to keep the plant open past 2009.
"People with my seniority, we're a little worried about what's going to happen to us," he said.
Other workers bordered between thinking GM is using a scare tactic but knowing that domestic auto companies and their suppliers are in financial trouble.
"They've been whipsawing the local union for a long time, so I take this with a grain of salt," said Ed York, 58, of Canfield. "But on the other hand, the plant could go."
York is among those working his final days at the plant this week. He has worked at the plant 38 years.
Many of the 1,600 workers who took early retirement incentives or buyouts earlier this year are leaving as of Jan. 1. The size of the work force is being cut to 3,700.
Workers said they expected the work force to be cut even further if the complex remains open. They said they expect GM to push for more outsourcing of work to suppliers.
shilling@vindy.com