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This is absolutely ridiculous. These were already some of the most coddled blue-collar workers in America, and now apparently the U.S. government considers them more important than the millions of others who have lost their jobs.
Also, it seems that Texas is considered to be "foreign competition" - as I understand it, that's where Toyota is moving the work that used to be done at NUMMI.
"Nummi, which had been co-owned by General Motors and Toyota until it became a casualty of the auto industry collapse, was declared a victim of foreign competition, making workers eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said today.
The assistance announced today makes Nummi workers eligible for up to 130 weeks of unemployment compensation as long as they are enrolled in a state-approved job-retraining program. That could be extended for up to 26 weeks if the individual also needs remedial educational courses."
This is absolutely ridiculous. These were already some of the most coddled blue-collar workers in America, and now apparently the U.S. government considers them more important than the millions of others who have lost their jobs.
Also, it seems that Texas is considered to be "foreign competition" - as I understand it, that's where Toyota is moving the work that used to be done at NUMMI.
"Nummi, which had been co-owned by General Motors and Toyota until it became a casualty of the auto industry collapse, was declared a victim of foreign competition, making workers eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said today.
The assistance announced today makes Nummi workers eligible for up to 130 weeks of unemployment compensation as long as they are enrolled in a state-approved job-retraining program. That could be extended for up to 26 weeks if the individual also needs remedial educational courses."
What specifically makes the NUMMI workers some of the most coddled blue-collar workers in America?
The ones I know... no relation to me Are very dedicated. They were the type that would come in on their own dime nights and weekends to facilitate Model Year change overs...
NUMMI also contributed a lot through it's workforce to the community... anything from the United Way to civic projects in Fremont... the workers donated vehicles to the city and to the DARE program.
I think the plants closing is very sad and the effects will be felt for years to come... once it's gone, it's not coming back.
NUMMI will cease to exist and the jobs are going to Toyota workers...
The retraining program is not new and workers that avail themselves of retraining are only working within the existing program...
It's a tough situation no matter how you look at it...
Last edited by Ultrarunner; 11-25-2009 at 03:42 PM..
Reason: TYPO
I agree NUMMI workers were not coddled. However, the plant's shut down is an inevitable result of our new draconian enviro Nazi regs. What shut them down was a combination of CO2 and VOC. Compliance would have broken the bank. Better to shut down and relo to TX. As for the workers, maybe a tax break would be a good idea. Didn't the feds say they'd help workers cope with the impacts of their own pending CO2 regs? Good chance to demonstrate some early good faith (he typed semi cynically).
What a bunch of BS!! The air quality in the Bay Area and the US has been getting better for 30+ years now. Too many people worry about the wrong things.
What a bunch of BS!! The air quality in the Bay Area and the US has been getting better for 30+ years now. Too many people worry about the wrong things.
Correct, pretty much entirely because of the government regulations that BAHB was complaining about. Clean environments don't happen on their own these days . . .
This is absolutely ridiculous. These were already some of the most coddled blue-collar workers in America, and now apparently the U.S. government considers them more important than the millions of others who have lost their jobs.
Also, it seems that Texas is considered to be "foreign competition" - as I understand it, that's where Toyota is moving the work that used to be done at NUMMI.
"Nummi, which had been co-owned by General Motors and Toyota until it became a casualty of the auto industry collapse, was declared a victim of foreign competition, making workers eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said today.
The assistance announced today makes Nummi workers eligible for up to 130 weeks of unemployment compensation as long as they are enrolled in a state-approved job-retraining program. That could be extended for up to 26 weeks if the individual also needs remedial educational courses."
CA stands to benefit a great deal from the Obama administration. No surprise here.
I work for Toyota's Canadian plant which also builds the Corolla and Matrix (Vibe). While I'm fortunate enough to still have my job, my income went down 30% this past year with lost days, lost overtime and bonuses. Not to mention that I lost over 20% on the value of my retirement savings. It was a big financial hit for me that I'm still recovering from but that is nothing compared to what the NUMMI workers must be facing. Don't give them a handout, but a hand up. Most people who work in car plants give a lot of themselves just to do the job. They only show the clean, high seniority jobs on TV. Most jobs in a car plant involve a lot of walking, lifting, painting and welding at a very quick and continuous pace each and every day. Most leave work at the end of the day physically drained but they do it to try to give thier families a better life. They went about things the right way, work hard and you'll get ahead. Give them a chance to get retrained now for jobs that are in demand. If these workers are all suddenly unemployed, you'll start seeing more families losing their house. California is about to lose a lot of tax revenue when those jobs are gone, so it makes sense to try to replace as much of it as possible, as quickly as possible and keep families in their homes. We Canadians are doing OK now but we and everyone else will do a lot better when America gets back on track. The way to do that is to get people working again.
What a bunch of BS!! The air quality in the Bay Area and the US has been getting better for 30+ years now.
Better than what - suck? Have a look at either side of the valley during rush hour. And recite the famous L.A. line: "You can't trust air you can't see".
If the Govt is gonna give Nummi workers assistance, then it should be handed around to everyone else that has been laid off at other jobs also. I don't care who you are or what you do, you chose to keep that job for 20 yrs. Technology has evolved and if you can't keep up its no one's fault but your own.
Jobs aren't loyal like they were to our parents that have retired. It sucks to see thousands of workers laid off, but tell that to the companies that laid off thousands over the past few years....any assistance to them?
Starting over is no joke, and I have been there and I made sure that I kept up with what you need to know to get a job in this market TODAY. Those jobs were lucrative back in the day before Detriot took a dump and look at them now? The city is desolate. Car companies were taking a hit for a while now...I would have been making some type of plan to start learning something else JUST IN CASE because to start over in this market sucks, so if all you know how to do is BUILD CARS...GOD HELP YOU!
In this economy..NO ONE IS SAFE...not my job or anyone else's.
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