Rubber hits the road at Henniges
Local plant bleeding jobs to Mexico, 235 get layoff notices
Posted By MARK TAYTI/Tribune Staff
Posted 4 days ago
WELLAND
Henniges Automotive is shedding more than 200 jobs before the end of November and remaining unionized employees will face a three-week shutdown at Christmas time.
"It’s just disgusting how bad it is getting – we’re turning into a Third World country before our eyes," Joe Buote, president of United Steelworkers of America Local 455, said yesterday.
Buote said Henniges, formerly GDX Automotive, laid off 50 workers on Aug. 26. It has also issued 125 layoff notices to take effect Oct. 5. He anticipates another 60 workers will be laid off on Nov. 15 – bringing the layoff total to 235.
About 600 people currently work at the Welland-based auto parts plant, which makes rubber sealing products almost exclusively for General Motors. The layoffs affect one-third of the workforce.
Buote said some of the jobs – about 100 – will be heading to the company’s production facilities in Guadalajara, Mexico. The balance of the layoffs are being blamed on slowdowns at GM.
Employees were told the news last week.
He said the plant shutdown at Christmas is expected to begin on Dec. 15 and last until Jan. 5.
"Moral is absolutely terrible," he told The Tribune in a telephone interview. "We’re not happy with management's decision to shut down for three weeks. We have been meeting continuously to discuss how to minimize the repercussion on the workforce."
Buote said jobs being lost to Mexico are never coming back. It’s a scenario Buote said continues to repeat itself across the country.
"It’s going to be terrible for the city," he said, agreeing that more layoffs in a city still reeling from the announced closure of John Deere Welland Works and its 800 lost jobs is the last thing Welland needs.
"I hope people realize that we are in the middle of a federal election," he said. "We have been totally abandoned by the Tory government. They have been allowing manufacturing to die. It is disgusting what the government has not only allowed to happen but has endorsed. This area is being devastated."
Buote said workers have given up much in the form of concessions and provide top-quality work to Henniges Automotive.
"We have helped the new owners turn the corner. We have given up a lot of seniority rights to give the company flexibility."
He said news of layoffs and plant shutdowns could not have come at a worse time of year.
"It makes it more difficult," he said. "There is never a good time."
Buote said unionized workers earn an average $20.82 an hour and have benefits and pensions. Those jobs are not easily replaced, he added.
Despite numerous attempts to contact management at Henniges Automotive, calls were not returned to The Tribune yesterday.
Posted By MARK TAYTI/Tribune Staff
Posted 4 days ago
WELLAND
Henniges Automotive is shedding more than 200 jobs before the end of November and remaining unionized employees will face a three-week shutdown at Christmas time.
"It’s just disgusting how bad it is getting – we’re turning into a Third World country before our eyes," Joe Buote, president of United Steelworkers of America Local 455, said yesterday.
Buote said Henniges, formerly GDX Automotive, laid off 50 workers on Aug. 26. It has also issued 125 layoff notices to take effect Oct. 5. He anticipates another 60 workers will be laid off on Nov. 15 – bringing the layoff total to 235.
About 600 people currently work at the Welland-based auto parts plant, which makes rubber sealing products almost exclusively for General Motors. The layoffs affect one-third of the workforce.
Buote said some of the jobs – about 100 – will be heading to the company’s production facilities in Guadalajara, Mexico. The balance of the layoffs are being blamed on slowdowns at GM.
Employees were told the news last week.
He said the plant shutdown at Christmas is expected to begin on Dec. 15 and last until Jan. 5.
"Moral is absolutely terrible," he told The Tribune in a telephone interview. "We’re not happy with management's decision to shut down for three weeks. We have been meeting continuously to discuss how to minimize the repercussion on the workforce."
Buote said jobs being lost to Mexico are never coming back. It’s a scenario Buote said continues to repeat itself across the country.
"It’s going to be terrible for the city," he said, agreeing that more layoffs in a city still reeling from the announced closure of John Deere Welland Works and its 800 lost jobs is the last thing Welland needs.
"I hope people realize that we are in the middle of a federal election," he said. "We have been totally abandoned by the Tory government. They have been allowing manufacturing to die. It is disgusting what the government has not only allowed to happen but has endorsed. This area is being devastated."
Buote said workers have given up much in the form of concessions and provide top-quality work to Henniges Automotive.
"We have helped the new owners turn the corner. We have given up a lot of seniority rights to give the company flexibility."
He said news of layoffs and plant shutdowns could not have come at a worse time of year.
"It makes it more difficult," he said. "There is never a good time."
Buote said unionized workers earn an average $20.82 an hour and have benefits and pensions. Those jobs are not easily replaced, he added.
Despite numerous attempts to contact management at Henniges Automotive, calls were not returned to The Tribune yesterday.
Labels: Canada, Henniges Automotive, layoffs
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