GM task force starts planning
Group identifies five areas to work on such as support services for workers and their families.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
DAYTON — Identifying redevelopment options and providing services and support for workers affected by the closing of Moraine's GM assembly plant is the focus of a task force of local leaders who met for the first time on Wednesday, June 25.
While efforts to lobby GM for retention are important, committee members and citizens need to be "realistic" about the possibility of a plant closure during the next 12 to 18 months, said Judy Dodge, Montgomery County commissioner.
Dodge and the task force have identified five areas to work on: retention of the plant and/or redevelopment of the facility, workforce and support services for the affected workers and their families, analysis of the greater effect of plant layoffs and/or closing, open communication between support services, community members, and affected workers.
According to Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, who attended the meeting via telephone, he and Gov. Ted Strickland will meet with GM officials in Columbus later this week to lobby for reconsideration of the decision to close the plant.
"We will do everything we possibly can to save the jobs at Moraine," Fisher said.
Fisher also said that it was necessary to "operate on parallel tracks" and plan simultaneously for the worst case scenario of the plant closing. He added that he wants GM to help identify alternate uses for the plant. Dodge echoed this idea, and called retrofitting the plant for other manufacturing tasks "a viable option."
Steve Trent, of the IUE-UAW, said the union has offered GM a deal that would put labor costs at $4 to $5 cheaper than Toyota or Honda if GM puts products in the plant.
"We are not an obstacle in this thing. We do not want to be seen as such," Trent said. "We've done everything that we can do."
Some progress concerning services for affected workers and their families already has been made. Gary Williamson, who led a regional workforce response team, presented a report outlining strategies for Moraine workers. The response team's report includes a manual of retraining options. The group also has created financial workshops to assist workers and their families and HelpLink 2-1-1, a social service hotline to field questions dealing with housing, job training, food, health and safety issues.
Contact this reporter at ahazlett@DaytonDailyNews.com.
