Updated 03/19/2009 06:13 AM
Shut down begins for New Process Gear
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Over three decades, the headlines have become commonplace. Manufacturing jobs disappearing. The companies that once formed the foundation of the regional economy moving out.
And now the latest headline. This employer in the Syracuse area, who had offered jobs for more than a hundred years, nearing its end. The workers here at New Process Gear saying "no" to a new contract offer that would have kept this plant alive.
The United Auto Workers had rejected a deal back in February to try to head off a closing. They said concessions were too deep. The union and company tried again, easing some of the cutbacks. But the rank and file, who've seen wages and benefits drop by 40 percent in the past year, again said enough.
“None of our members wanted to see that plant close. They just want a fair day's pay, I think, for the type of work that they do,” said UAW Local 624 President Scott Stanton.
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“The revised tentative agreement that was put to ratification really amounted to an extraordinary effort to try to make the facility viable. And now, unfortunately, we are in a position where the decision has been made to proceed to closure,” said New Process Gear spokesman Anthony D’Angelo.
A region that once depended on long-established factories to provide strong wages and benefits continues to see that sector of the economy all but disappear.
“There is some good news within the high tech manufacturing jobs. So, when the recession does end, hopefully we will gain back some manufacturing jobs, but the manufacturing sector, in general, has been on a long term decline, here in the Syracuse area,” said Karen Knapik-Scalzo of the New York State Department of Labor.
The latest closing will cost 1,400 jobs at New Process and hundreds more in companies that depend on the plant.
“Today is a very difficult morning after, after what is certainly very big news and very difficult news, not only for our employees, but for the central New York community,” D’Angelo said.
Parent company Magna International says it has no timetable, yet, for the New Process shutdown.
The second vote on the deal with New Process Gear was very close. Back in February, workers had overwhelmingly rejected the deal. This time around, the package failed by just 26 votes.