Hugs, tears mark Moraine plant's last day
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Workers hug outside the GM Moraine Assembly Plant while leaving on the final day of production Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008. Staff photo by Chris Stewart.MORAINE — The General Motors Corp. plant where workers spent a generation building pickup trucks and, more recently, sport utility vehicles was emptying out on its final day.
Lisa Whittaker, one of those working her last day Tuesday, Dec. 23, at GM's Moraine Assembly plant, said it was unsettling to see empty areas in what had been a busy birthplace for Chevrolet TrailBlazers, GMC Envoys and other midsized SUVs. The plant's body and paint shops already had shut down, and the final vehicles were being assembled.
Whittaker, 39, clutched the plant identification badge she would have to surrender, and talked about saying goodbye to co-workers.
"It's really, really hard," said Whittaker, who had attached pictures of co-workers to her toolbox.
Amy Lewis, 32, of West Alexandria, said she began working at the plant after graduating in 1995 from Twin Valley South High School. On Sept. 26 of this year, she was laid off, but was recalled six weeks later.
"I've had to go through it twice," Lewis said of the experience of separating from GM and co-workers.
In January, she plans to go to Butler Tech to begin preparing herself for a nursing career.
Gaylen Turner, president of IUE-CWA Local 798 which represents the GM Moraine production workers, worked on the plant's assembly line. He has had two careers in the building.
Turner, 54, was hired there in 1977 when it was a Frigidaire appliance factory, lost his job in 1979, then was hired back in 1985 after GM had converted it into an automotive assembly plant.
"I've come full circle," Turner said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.
