BTW< Is this the Goodyear plant in Union City? My dad retired from there, my Uncle was getting ready to and my step brother is the Union Steward. I hate to hear this, it's gonna kill the economy there.
Another Uncle retired from General long ago. Do you know any Pucketts or Allen's?
You guessed correct. It is Union City.
I spent 33 years at General/Conti. I know a lot of the guys at General but there were more than five thousand that worked there over the years so I don't know them all. Most people knew me because of where I worked in the 'Tire Room'. And the last few years I was all over the plant because I had part of Maintenance too. At the last it seemed I knew everybody and they all knew me. I felt like I owned a part of that place and it still hurts to drive by and see the walls down.
The plant covered 69 acres under roof.
I started the year after they had thirteen wildcat strikes. Went thru a few of those on both sides. One time the State Police had to get all us supers out. Those were the bad old days. At the end it was running well but had outdated equipment and the upper managers wanted to move our prodution to Mexico to cut cost. That turned out so well that ALL involved in planning that program lost their jobs.
When General closed I swore I would never set foot in another tire plant. My unemployment and severance had run out and I was at the Unemployment Office seeing what I could sign up for when my cell phone rang. They were calling me from Union City for the fourth time. Production Manager said it was the last time he would offer. I had to go outside the office to take the call. Had a daughter getting married the next weekend and in a weak moment I accepted the job.
At U.C. I am an 'outsider'. Most of the people have worked together for twenty or thirty years. I stay non political and take my breaks at my desk on the work floor. I knew when I started it was a short time until it closed but I thought it would last one more contract.
That small town will be devestated. Wages there are from $13 to $24 per hour. Some of the top producing tire builders made close to $40. To do the job as well as some do you must be a weightlifter, gymnast, and ballerina all together. Takes a month to teach how to run the machines. Takes years to do it well. There is nothing nearby to take it's place.
Three people that worked with me at General work for me at U.C.. One drives 135 miles round trip.
I will stick it out to the end. But if offered the chance to get out with benefits I will take it so the younger ones can work. Goodyear has a great reputation for taking care of the people when they have to shut a plant. Many of the younger ones will relocate to other plants in other cities.
When U.C. closes it will be the end of the road for me.
