Scottr Member Username: Scottr
Post Number: 372 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 6:09 pm: | |
March 9, 2007 BY JASON ROBERSON FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER Lear Corp. executives on Friday afternoon informed employees at its Detroit armrest and headrest plant that it would close. No date was given. About 300 hourly workers, represented by UAW Local 174, will be affected. http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll /article?AID=/20070309/BUSINES S01/70309043 Given the discussion over Comerica leaving, I felt this was even more significant. Whereas Comerica's 200 workers are just moving and won't directly add to unemployment rates, these 300 workers are out of a job, and not moving to Dallas or anywhere else. Of course, this is just 300 out of thousands in recent years to have this happen, but this is yet another sign that it's not over yet. It was somewhat reassuring that they claimed no more plants in the area were to be closed, although I'm not certain I entirely believe that, and certainly that statement only applies to the near future. Also, since they will be closing on the sale of their interiors division by the end of the first quarter, former lear plants could yet be closed while lear itself keeps its word. |
Aiw Member Username: Aiw
Post Number: 6193 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 6:20 pm: | |
Where is this plant? I'm having a hard time picturing it. |
Scottr Member Username: Scottr
Post Number: 373 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 6:30 pm: | |
I've never been there myself, but google maps puts it on Nancy Street, in the area of McNichols and Davison. |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 2727 Registered: 10-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 6:39 pm: | |
Lear announced a year ago that they would be offshoring to Asia and their Michigan and national workforces would be significantly trimmed. It's just the octopus dropping another of its shoes. |
Goat Member Username: Goat
Post Number: 9280 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 7:17 pm: | |
...at least those in Asia will have jobs now. Will they respond in kind and send us food packages when we need it? |
Wash_man Member Username: Wash_man
Post Number: 357 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 8:45 pm: | |
Not in Detroit, but here's another victim of closing in SE Michigan. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17 523367/ |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 648 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 9:50 pm: | |
It's about time Michigan/the Detroit area moved out of depending so much on the manufacturing industries. What is unfortunate is that it has to be forced upon these employees by the system of capitalism and economics rather than some forward thinking person back several decades ago. When did Detroiters first realize that manufacturing was not going to be the biggest industry sector in the U.S. any longer? Several decades ago in my opinion. Why does Detroit still have the habit of trying to hang on to old ways? |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 2729 Registered: 10-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 10:27 pm: | |
quote:Why does Detroit still have the habit of trying to hang on to old ways? Just why do you anthropomorphize the city of Detroit as if it were alive? It is not a sentient being, has no feelings, has no habits, and most certainly has no brain. |
Scottr Member Username: Scottr
Post Number: 374 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 10:34 pm: | |
so what do you propose we move into, charlottepaul? Banking? and it's not like that happens overnight, and it's not like no one has tried to bring in other industries. in fact, many have, unfortunately, it's not fast enough to make up for the rate we're losing jobs. not to mention, many of these other industries require an education level not present among most of those who are losing their jobs. |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 1820 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 11:10 pm: | |
nor do these other industries provide the sheer number of jobs also, manufacturing is an industry fundamental to any nation's economy - our trade deficit shows that quite clearly |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 655 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 2:19 pm: | |
My apologies. That was sort of a rant against the city that I should have kept to myself. Basically I was just angry at the city for relying so heavily on one type of industry. I just would have liked to think that someone out there would have spotted this 'end' sooner so it wouldn't have been as forced upon those that just so happen to be working in the auto industry at this given point and affecting their families and what not. |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 656 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 2:21 pm: | |
Lilpup, you are right. The auto industry did give a lot to Detroit. So I guess sooner or later one might have guessed that it would take it back away from Detroit. |
Scottr Member Username: Scottr
Post Number: 376 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 2:40 pm: | |
we've seen the decline in auto manufacturing coming for decades, seeing it 'sooner' wasn't the problem at all. the real problem is, bringing in new industries is not a simple undertaking. Detroit's image hasn't helped either. |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 3173 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 8:21 pm: | |
AIW, the Lear plant is located along the north side of Nancy, which is between Ryan and Mound, north of McNichols. It's off the beaten path because a residential neighborhood lies between it and McNichols, and on the opposite side, the prison complexes along the south side of Nevada hide it from view. I've been meaning to throw it in the OCF thread but it's difficult to photograph from the ground:
Parts of the plant look very old, circa WWI, but I don't know much about its history. Used to be American Sheet Metal Co, and prior to that, Mechanical Handling Systems, manufacturers of conveyor equipment and trailers. Best viewed from the air:
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