Posted on 04/13/2006 7:04:02 AM PDT by Rakkasan1
Union members at the Ford plant in St. Paul are being told this morning that the company will close the plant in 2009, an official for the union local said. "The (union) bargaining committee put out a notice to members (today)," said Bob Killeen, treasurer for UAW Local 879, which represents the workers at the plant.
The local has scheduled a news conference for 2 this afternoon, said local president Rob McKenzie.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
The St. Paul Ford plant dates back almost to antiquity. I'm surprised its been able to hang on this long. They make the smaller Ford Ranger pickup and its having a tough time competing against Nissan and Toyota.
That may be because the basic chassis dates back to the early 80s, the sheetmetal and interior dates to the early to mid-90s, and it's not getting any younger.
I wonder what will come of the dam there?
The plant is kinda unique.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/02/13/forddam/
St. Paul, Minn. — For 82 years, Ford has powered its St. Paul assembly plant with Mississippi River water. The water rushes over Lock and Dam 1 into Ford's hydro plant, which generates electricity.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished the dam in 1917 with an attached platform, which was built in anticipation of hydro power.
"They took'er jobs!"
obligatory South Park reference.
Lots of other auto manufacturers are opeining plants in the South...hope these guys won't mind moving to where the jobs are...because there "are" jobs.
The St. Paul plant has survived so long because it has it's own hydro plant for power. I believe they even sell some surplus electricity.
It's sad, but they have 3 years notice. A lot of people get no notice.
Probably sell it to the local power company or the Watermelons will force it to be torn down.
3 years away and local pols already going nuts to pander to the future jobless.
of course, it's Bush's fault...
probably the most valuable land in St.Paul, too.
maybe Boss Coleman will make it the new DFL Headquarters or make it the new Republic of Diversityville Buggywhip Factory.
local radio already had workers blaming gas prices and (of course) Bush and the "poor economy" even though our unemployment rate in MN is around 4%.
I would think if ethanol is the going to save us all (as we're told here by politicians in MN) ,they'd turn it into an ethanol car plant .badabing-badaboom.
I remember when West Publishing pulled out of downtown St. Paul. A St. Paul city government bow wow was quoted saying, "...good, we need the office space." (West was across the street from city hall.)
yep. i had a friend who worked there and I work near there now.once in a while I see the eccentric old man who started that place walking down the street in downtown.
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