Job cuts announced at Mishawaka Hummer plant

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Mishawaka, IN
Posted: 2:07 PM Aug 28, 2008
Last Updated: 2:07 PM Aug 28, 2008

16 comments

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There’s more bad news today on the economic front for workers at AM General.

Eighty people will be losing their jobs at the Hummer plant in Mishawaka.

Spokesman Craig McNab tells NewsCenter 16 that AM General goes to “great pains” to move workers from one position to another when reductions are made, but this time it couldn’t be done.

AM General announced earlier that it would be cutting production from 52 Hummers a day to 32, but cuts by General Motors pushed that number even lower.

McNab says the workers involved have all been told they are losing their jobs.

The layoffs will start next week and continue into September.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Rick Location: Elkhart on Oct 2, 2008 at 01:56 AM
Unions? What did unions do for the people at Conn-Selmer in Elkhart? Nothing. You pay dues and they promise security, and in the end, they steal your money for years and bail out on you when you need them the most. The economy is a problem, but the greedy Unions also robbed the people they claimed they were representing.

Posted by: laid off on Sep 4, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Yeah we was told by a phone call and certified letter, while we was allready off.

Posted by: anon on Sep 2, 2008 at 06:25 PM
pc-you don't know what you're talking about. my husband has worked there for over 25 years, and can't bump into the other plant for 120 days. senority means nothing

Posted by: jim on Aug 30, 2008 at 09:18 AM
They have different contracts, same union but different contracts. And unions have NOTHING to do with the jobs being shipped overseas! The buisnesses increase the profits and have tax rightoffs for doing this. I hope Dave and Steve read this! And the "person under Anonymous down at the bottom who doesnt know a thing hes talking about, Unions didnt drive them to mexico, our government did, cheep labor and no quality control. maybe these words will help him, lead paint and tainted food.

Posted by: Dave Location: South Bend on Aug 29, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Let me get this right. If I work at the H2 plant and have 20 yrs seniority and get laid off, I can't bump the person working at the Hummer plant who has 2 yrs seniority? and we're under the same union

Posted by: Steve Location: South Bend on Aug 29, 2008 at 01:20 PM
I sympathize with those who lost their jobs, but unions are a lot of the problem. Break them up and maybe businesses could funtion and not have to politic and ship jobs off seas.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Goshen on Aug 29, 2008 at 12:02 PM
It's all a giant cycle - supply and demand. When the demand goes down, so must the supply. The company can't afford to support the same amount of employees when production is cut in half. The union affects a lot of things, but not the demand of Hummers.

Posted by: Mike Location: South Bend on Aug 29, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Hey Tom, How do you know?

Posted by: Anon Location: South Bend on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Agree with "Tom". There's more to this than McNab's excuses. My hubby works there.

Posted by: mick Location: granger on Aug 29, 2008 at 05:35 AM
if they quit handing out these $10,000. bounses every quarter there would be at least 200 people that would retire.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 29, 2008 at 05:21 AM
I guess it has nothing to do with our governments failed domestic and foreign policies this is only one of millions of businesses that has closed or left the country during this lousy regime.

Posted by: Laid off From Memorial Location: South Bend on Aug 29, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Memorial Hospital has laid off over 200 people in the last few weeks so AM General isn't the only place doing this. I know since I was one of them. They are trying to keep the community in the dark regarding the situation. That is why no public announcement have been made. We have been threatened with loosing our severance if we spoke to the media. People are being let go of different days over a three month period to keep this secretive. You the community has a right to know since they are risking patient lives by cutting critical staff members. If you have a choice, do yourself a favor please don't go to Memorial.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 28, 2008 at 05:38 PM
union union. blah blah. the union ruined the US that is why all these companies are moving to mexico or selling out. To get away from the "brothers and sisters". Get over your union and stop hiding behind the "union". Maybe your union shouldnt have made a "statement" by shuting down their axle plant and made you look bad. You dont see Toyota or Honda "striking" with their "union". Oh they dont have a union that is why.

Posted by: PC Location: South bend on Aug 28, 2008 at 05:02 PM
Tom you do not know what your talking about. There is no place for them to go. The humvee plant is full, and h2 people cannot bump lower seniority people at the other plants and it also goes the other way around. It is in the contract. As far as breaking up the union. Wow. Where did that come from? Good luck to the displaced workers. They have done allot for this community and have provided work for other companies as well. We should all wish the best for them.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 28, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Things are really going to be tough for the next few years. Good luck to all.

Posted by: tom Location: south bend on Aug 28, 2008 at 03:04 PM
dont be fooled by craig mcnabs comments!! they can relocate these layed off workers by making a seniority adjustment but the company is using this ploy to break up the union!!and the union is letting them do exactly that!!!

Posted by: Daniel Location: Argos on Aug 28, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Is this supposed to shock the comunnity at times like this. Truefully more job lose is to come in the area. People need to be prepaired the best that you can cause it could happen to you. We only have a few sure things in life and your job is not one of them.