Comments on: A Worker at Chrysler’s Downed Belvidere Plant Emails TTAC

By: Virtual Insanity

Virtual Insanity — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:09:24 +0000

So we are taking emails from employees at the lower levels at face value know? If I send you an email from my company addy that everything is fine and dandy and the numbers you have are wrong and what not, will you publish that as well and take it as seriously?

By: mike frederick

mike frederick — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:32:41 +0000

I also work in a GM stamping/metal fabrication plant.Sending out dies and the related tooling from one plant to another is common place in regards to a press’ breaking down.Set-up time has actually dropped signifacantly as GM has moved away from “footprint” style lines to the transfer series that are more abundant.

Whats really intresting to hear about the aforementioned press is that it had shuttered assy. production.Did someone not have the back-up plan?If taking the e-mail for what its worth,this press seems to have had a terminal breakdown.Main driveshafts do break with considerable time to allow for repair.It makes me ask the question “does this facality have the resources tobuy the equipment or parts.”
Maybe this is Chryslers attempt to outsource its stampings?

By: hltguy

hltguy — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:07:17 +0000

“Bounced checks”? That is a serious matter, IF true. If true, why would Chrysler banks bounce their checks? No credit line back ups? No relationships with banks to avoid this? Again, this seems very serious, if true.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:59:07 +0000

Unfortunately, primary sources are sometimes even more misleading than flacks. We should not draw too many conclusions from this yet.

By: GS650G

GS650G — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:31:12 +0000

I guess they had to get the stuff down to the ship bound for China.

By: becurb

becurb — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:18:06 +0000

# geeber :

I used to work at the state headquarters of a major national telecommunications carrier, and the janitors always seemed to know breaking news before anyone else…

It is amazing the things people will leave on their desks, because the “little people” will never see it. However, the lowly cleaners, janitors, etc. are invisible, and have the keys to all of the offices, plus a valid reason to go into said offices…

Bruce

By: geeber

geeber — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:50:35 +0000

gamper: I am not really sure how the average UAW worker would be in a position to know hard numbers on Chrysler’s inventory either. Surely sticking your head out into the factory’s parking lot isnt a great way to determine the information.

I used to work at the state headquarters of a major national telecommunications carrier, and the janitors always seemed to know breaking news before anyone else…

By: mikey

mikey — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:44:55 +0000

As a stamping plant employee I know we at GM have a backup plan.An outsider would be shocked at how fast we can move dies,blank steel and tooling 700 miles south.5yrs ago we cooked a massive press.2days down time in cars half a shift in the Truck plant.
Don’t read too much into it folks.

By: gamper

gamper — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:33:37 +0000

I dont believe a single e-mail from one employee can really tell us anything aside from the fact the the UAW worker is left in the dark. I am not really sure how the average UAW worker would be in a position to know hard numbers on Chrysler’s inventory either. Surely sticking your head out into the factory’s parking lot isnt a great way to determine the information.

Also, I would have to say that if Chrysler was bouncing checks to suppliers, I doubt an e-mail from a UAW line worker would have been the first source we would hear it from.

I call Shenanigans!

By: Kurt B

Kurt B — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:30:06 +0000

Perhaps this is the trial run for doing the same thing at Plastech.

By: Banned User

Banned User — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:25:14 +0000

The stamping plant is seperate from the main plant. This is certainly unusual what they are doing. How long can it take to repair one of these presses? Sounds like Cerberus is playing hardball and the stamping plant is closing. Unless the unions and the companies decide that the plants are there to build product and not to provide a comfortable lifestyle for the employees they are destined for failure.

By: Sherman Lin

Sherman Lin — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:22:36 +0000

If this is true, wow then it really looks like maybe its the end for Chrysler.

By: tdoyle

tdoyle — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:10:02 +0000

True, first-hand information can sometimes indeed by hard to find, especially folks on the front lines like this individual. If I worked at the Belvidere facility and had to rely on work there to feed my family, I would be a little concerned after reading that e-mail, union or not.