UAW, Political Leaders Uniting To Keep Wrangler In Ohio

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

With the possibility of an aluminum Jeep Wrangler being built elsewhere, the United Auto Workers and political leaders are coming together to convince Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to keep the icon in Toledo, Ohio.

Automotive News reports the gathering will occur Monday at the UAW Local 12, with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur, and Toledo mayor D. Michael Collins joining the group of workers, local leaders and members of the community to launch a campaign to keep the Wrangler at the Chrysler Assembly Plant, where 1,700 (out of a total of over 6,000) help assemble the icon with the help of 800 employed by neighborhood suppliers.

The campaign is set to begin as FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne warned that should the next-generation Wrangler be based upon an aluminum unibody, it would be built elsewhere:

If the solution is aluminum, then I think unfortunately that Toledo is the wrong place, the wrong setup to try and build a Wrangler, because it requires a complete reconfiguring of the assets that would be cost-prohibitive. It would be so outrageously expensive that it would be impossible to try and work out of that facility.

UAW Local 12 president Bruce Baumhower invited 40 elected officials and local businessmen to the gathering, with the intent of establishing a task force set to address the issues that would take the Wrangler out of Toledo.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • JaySeis JaySeis on Oct 20, 2014

    Let's see iPad-assembled in China iPhone-assembled in China Eco-Drive watch-Japanese movement Pendleton Shirt-made in China Costco jeans-made in Mexico Reebok Zags-made in China Yep u betcha, I'm 'Merican.

  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Oct 21, 2014

    @MPAVictoria, It's neither left or right. Both side are wrong. Whomever doesn't embrace the changing future will become less. When the Luddites that spun fabric complained that looms will kill of their jobs,did this matter to the US? No. When the electric motor killed of the artisans, cottage industries, did this matter to the US? No. Even with the advent of consumer mass production the US lead and gave the US a very good lifestyle. The US adapted this very well. Will you the newest generation of Luddite matter? No. Because whatever countries embrace the next phase of industrialisation will be the winner. The ones trying to protect future worthless jobs will pay the price. This is sad but true. Look at the agri industry. Do we still harvest by hand? No. I don't here many people complaining. But they did eons ago. Do I hear the candlestick makers union up in arms? No. They don't matter, they don't exist. What about the blacksmiths/farriers? Yup, sit back and whine and cry about the immediate future. You sound like the people who spent their lives pi$$ing away their income, then complain because they are broke. Do they matter? No. I'm neither left or right. I believe in a minimum wage, public health and good education and the military. Everything else isn't the governments business. As I started with, the future of white and blue collar jobs will become like agriculture. Why use people if they aren't necessary? That's make it expensive. New and better jobs will be generated, like it always has throughout the industrial revolution. But people like you and the unions just make it harder than it has to be. Selfish comes to mind. We ain't entitled to anything in the world, earn it. If you think that's right wing then I feel sorry for you.

  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Oct 21, 2014

    Derek, I've posted a number of comments and they aren't posting. Also I've waited for them to be retrieved from your spam bin. ?????????????????????????????????

  • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Oct 21, 2014

    I'm still sad that the brick smoke stacks that said "Willys" and "Overland" that defined the old Jeep plant are gone. Should have been kept as historical markers. :(

    • Bball40dtw Bball40dtw on Oct 21, 2014

      You can buy lofts in Detroit branded "Willys Overland". Unfortunately, you can't sell smoke stacks to millenials at inflated prices.

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