Uncertainties lingered in the minds of Raybestos Products Co. employees Thursday.
Bargaining committee head Gary Bryant was told one third of the company’s jobs were gone, and another third would likely be cut in the future. The newest round of job cuts would take place in January and April and would affect union and salary employees.
Company management said in October the steel stamping business would be divided up and outsourced to independent companies. It was later announced the heavy duty assembly plant will be moved elsewhere.
Union President Dan Booher said union members were not consulted on either decision.
Booher said company management told employees they might keep the conventional automotive division in Crawfordsville had union members opened a contract early and agreed to concessions.
Members voted not to enter the negotiations.
“The company made it clear to us if we opened the contract earlier, there would be significant wage reduction, extreme increases in medical premiums and other things as well,” Bryant said.
He and Booher both said they support the union’s decision.
“My union membership made a good, sound business decision in not investing in the automotive business because that business does not look promising at this time,” Bryant said.
Booher said company management decided to move the conventional automotive operations out of the plant after the no vote. Crawfordsville employees will continue to produce friction materials and other high-speed automotive operations.
A bigger picture
“This is hard for everybody — both management and the union and nobody likes it,” Operations Manager Bob Clark said. “We’re competing in a global market right now, and the U.S. is not winning.”
Clark said he talked to state legislature in January 2004 and wasn’t satisfied government was taking necessary steps to protect automotive jobs in the state.
Bryant said the state’s automotive industry reflects a wider issue of America’s failing economy versus increased global competition.
“People we’re competing with are happy living in a mud hut,” Bryant said.
“If we have to bring our standard of living down to compete, we’re not going to stay here,” he said on behalf of the union.
Clark said there are no plans to relocate Raybestos’ corporate headquarters at this time and any division relocation would be within the United States.
Many rural communities in states like Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Alabama and Georgia have average wages of $10 an hour. The average wage for semi-skilled workers here is $16.75, he said.
Both Clark and Bryant said they are committed to the surviving portion of Raybestos.
“We’re not over here in a cat fight,” Bryant said. “We’re trying to save what we can and grow in the future.”
Uncertain future
Mike French said pending job cuts loomed in his mind as he entered work on Thursday.
“I think it’s a lot more clear that we may not have a job here before long,” the Raybestos employee of 22 years said. Colleague Cheryl Hoover said it wasn’t the first time she worried about her job.
“A number of years ago we were asked to open the contract to vote mandatory overtime,” Hoover said. “We took that pretty seriously then.”
Raybestos has been a big part of Hoover’s life. Her dad started at the company when she was 5 years old. Both of her parents retired from the company, and two brothers previously worked at Raybestos.
“I’m not convinced there’s not a future here. I don’t know what that might be, but you have to keep hope,” Hoover said.
Mike Dozier said he wasn’t sure what to expect.
“I’ve been here 33 years, and this is probably the worst I’ve seen it,” he said.
Dozier and his colleagues plan to continue with their strong work ethic.
“As long as Raybestos is here, the Union employees will work to do their best for Raybestos Products Company,” French said. “I think even with our struggle today, everybody out there on the floor is doing their best.”
They take one day at a time.
“The company has agreed to cooperate with the state employment services and give us every benefit that the state will give to displaced workers,” Booher said. “They been very generous about that. They’re going to give time for the state to come in and discuss the various options and benefits.”
Booher said the arrangement will take place fairly soon, but no date has been set.
“I speak for the City of Crawfordsville in saying this would have a crushing effect upon our local economy, as the good wages and benefits enjoyed by Raybestos employees are not readily available in mass quantities,” Crawfordsville Mayor John Zumer said in a statement.
“The ripple effect would impact everything from home mortgage payments, disposable income, personal and corporate taxes paid, to the overall health of our community,” he continued.
Bryant probed beyond the immediate impact of the lost jobs. He shared hope the Crawfordsville company would once again rebuild.
“In two years I see us smaller, but what we’re looking to do is grow the paper business and the other business we have here,” he said.
Dozier is a first-hand witness a resurrection is possible.
“We went through the same thing back in the 80s,” he said. He was out of work for sixth months before he was re-employed at the company.
“Back in 80 or 81 they laid off people that had 17 years in,” Dozier said. “I’ve seen it where we were down that low and came back.”