Workers discuss changes at GE

One worker wondered why Mayor O’Brien isn’t involved.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Unionized workers at the General Electric Ohio Lamp Plant on North Park Avenue gathered Thursday to discuss the changes coming to General Electric that could have them producing products for a different company by this time next year.

The workers, members of IUE-CWA Local 722, met at their union hall on North River Road.

Workers are concerned for the future of their jobs because GE has announced plans to spin off its appliances and lighting divisions to narrow its focus to higher-earning areas.

The plant employs about 340 workers after about 30 jobs were eliminated this summer.

The plant makes a variety of incandescent light bulbs, such as spotlights, floodlights and smaller indoor bulbs.

GE has cut or announced elimination of 174 jobs in the Mahoning Valley this year at plants in Austintown, Niles and Warren.

The company cited the economy and the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs and making more compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs overseas.

Union leaders returned to Warren with information from national union leaders on what may happen to their jobs, but no one has a crystal ball, one worker said, adding, “It’s all speculation at this time.”

Union leaders told workers that whatever company assumes control of the Ohio Lamp Plant and the rest of the lighting division will honor the national contract that covers the plant’s workers through June 2011, said Rose Gaskill of Warren, a 28-year veteran of GE.

She said union officials hope to know who will run the division by March.

Gaskill said GE has asked workers to take a four-month voluntary layoff to avoid forced layoffs this year. So far, 21 have accepted, she said.

Local 722 leaders declined to comment after the meeting. “Who let the reporter in here?” one official said when asked to comment.

Gaskill said she thinks the potential for GE workers to lose their jobs should signal Warren’s mayor, Michael O’Brien, to pay more attention to the situation.

She said he talks a lot about General Motors workers, but should be focusing on GE, especially since GE has been in Warren for 50 years.

“Why hasn’t there been anything from the mayor?” she said, adding that he could at least offer support.