As expected, Dunlop Tires cuts 147 jobs at local plant
Goodyear Dunlop reduces production amid auto slump
Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America has cut 147 hourly jobs at its Town of Tonawanda tire plant, following through on a plan disclosed in October to reduce its work force.
Of the 147 cuts, 52 were employee buyouts and 95 were layoffs, said Kathy Kluczynski, vice president of United Steelworkers of America Local 135, which represents hourly workers at the Sheridan Drive plant.
Goodyear Dunlop revealed in October it would reduce its 1,100-member hourly work force by up to 150 jobs. On Monday, it reduced production of passenger auto tires and commercial truck tires to a five-day-a-week schedule from the previous seven-day schedule.
Production of motorcycle tires at the plant was not affected by the changes.
Goodyear Dunlop has said the cutbacks were necessary due to continued weakness in the auto industry, market conditions that have affected a number of area manufacturers tied to the auto industry.
The company first extended buyout offers to try to reach its job-reduction goal. Among the 95 layoffs are seven workers who accepted voluntary layoffs and plan to retire within a year, Kluczynski said.
While the reductions were not unexpected, Kluczynski said it was still difficult news for the union members.
“I guess it’s reality with what’s going on out there with the economy,” she said. “We just hope the economy picks back up.”
Kluczynski said it was also a difficult time of year for the layoffs to hit, so close to the holidays. “This is a young group that’s being laid off,” she said.
Diane Zwirecki, a spokeswoman for the plant, said the company has no projections about when production might be stepped up or workers brought back.
“Nothing has changed since we made the initial announcement,” she said.
In addition to the hourly work force, Goodyear Dunlop has 150 salaried workers at the Tonawanda plant, plus an additional 50 salaried employees at offices in Amherst.
Prior to the production cutbacks, the plant was making about 5,500 passenger auto tires a day and about 2,000 commercial truck tires a day. It also makes 4,700 motorcycle tires a day.
“It’s very important as one of our larger employers and obviously [has] good-paying jobs,” said Robert Dimmig, executive director of the Town of Tonawanda Economic Development Corp.
The town has felt the pinch of layoffs from the auto slump lately, at plants run by Unifrax, General Motors Corp. and American Axle & Manufacturing.
The town works with its economic development partners to try to help those type of large-industry plants win new investment when they are competing with sister plants.
The town has also tried to stimulate growth in areas outside of auto manufacturing as well, he said, noting the growth of FedEx Trade Networks and the creation of office parks like Colvin Woods and Riverview Commerce Park.
Dimmig said economic development officials are working with a manufacturer kn the town on securing an investment worth $2 million to $3 million. He declined to identify the company until there is an official announcement.
“It’s simply responding to their particular market where there’s an opportunity,” Dimmig said.
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