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Nummi Workers Fear Detroit Fallout Workers await to see future

Updated 6:33 PM PDT, Tue, Nov 18, 2008

Related Topics: Sergo Santos

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Janna Dake, a Ford inspector for 20 years, works the final assembly line for the F-150 pickup.

 

Workers at Nummi are worried about the potential fallout if the Detroit auto industry goes belly up.

A lot of people at Nummi feel if the auto industry gets a bailout it could help save jobs not just here at the plant but throughout the community.

"(I) worked here at Nummi, my father worked here at Nummi," Sergo Santos said. "It's provided a good life for myself and my father and grandfather."

And Santos wants that to continue.

But the third generation auto worker, and current local union president, worries the auto industry's troubles could mean tough times for workers at the Fremont auto plant.

"They told us layoffs are not being considered at this time but it doesn't mean it can't happen," he said.

The New United Motor Manufacturing Plant, or Nummi, which is owned jointly by Toyota and GM, has already announced its cutting one shift of Tacoma truck production in January.

It's also stopping production for two days in December.

Workers said they are hopeful Congress will approve an auto industry bailout that could help the Fremont plant keep its production lines running.

"This is something our members aren't used to," Santos said.

But the bailout plan faces serious roadblocks.

Even Fremont Representative Pete Stark is speaking out against it.

Stark blasted General Motors Tuesday saying, "The current management is arguably incompetent. They got GM where they are today. Why would you reward them?"

Workers here say the slowdown the company's experiencing doesn't just affect the 5,000 people who work at the plant but hundreds of the company's suppliers.

It's estimated the company has 1,000 suppliers that employ another 50,000 people.

Comments (10)

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  • Joe Martinez Monday, Dec 15 at 1:58 PM FLAG COMMENT Our UAW 2244 Local President, Sergio Santos is a great leader, he has been with NUMMI for over 18 years and has held several leadership positions. Im confident he will work closely with the rest of the Executive Members and will do what is best for all Union members!
  • uaw #2244 member Monday, Dec 8 at 7:22 PM FLAG COMMENT The current uaw leadership is part of the cause and problems where facing at nummi,the united alliance leadership has either lost, gave are negioted away are members rights.holidays,pension.benifits..etc there a bunch of opportunist and not unionist
  • mac Saturday, Dec 6 at 11:17 PM FLAG COMMENT yes
  • Anonymous Sunday, Nov 23 at 2:46 PM FLAG COMMENT if it wasnt for those idiots that bought houses more expensive than they could afford with the ARM loans, the credit market wouldn't have collapsed. The sole reason people aren't buying cars, they can't get credit. It isn't because GM's management made bad decisions. Why is it the nations banks want 700 Billion and nobodys crying about that? Lets stop spending so much over in Iraq too.
  • Nick Flores Thursday, Nov 20 at 9:18 PM FLAG COMMENT As a GM 1364 former member and a retiree of Local 2244 I have seen Sergio come up through the ranks. He started at the bottom and worked his way to the top. He comes from a strong blood line and I'm very proud of his performance and achievements. I'm also confident he will represent the members at the plant in these ruff times ahead with everything he has and will be making sure that the NUMMI employees are taken care of. You ... MORE >

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