Visteon Workers Seek TAA

Washington, D.C.

Union, civic and corporate leaders joined together to lobby for relief on Capitol Hill after Visteon announced it would shut the doors on its Connersville, Ind., plant in September.

The February 1 announcement was a devastating blow to the 890 workers, including 750 members of Local 919.

The county where the plant is located has the highest unemployment level in the entire state of Indiana so options for finding another job are severely limited.

"There is nothing here. Connersville has nothing," said Kim Kibbey, wife of a 22-year member. "If we didn't have children we'd just up and go, but it ain't that easy."

So when the Local 919 leadership met with Indiana Sens. Richard Lugar (R) and Evan Bayh (D) and Rep. Baron Hill (D), they asked not only for help for the workers but help to lay the groundwork to build new job opportunities.

The union officers and IUE-CWA President Jim Clark were joined by the mayor of Connersville, the area's head of economic development and the plant human resources director.

Their message was one of immediate relief by expanding eligibility for trade adjustment assistance benefits. The group wants TAA to cover some workers who currently aren't eligible for the retraining funds because their jobs went to a country that does not have a trade pact with the United States. Others lost their jobs more than a year prior to the closing announcement.

They also pitched potential business opportunities and asked for a commitment for a return visit to win endorsements if those prospects developed.

"We have a skilled and motivated workforce and we need to keep them in the area so we can bring new businesses in," said Local 919 President John Pavy.

He pointed out that despite the emotional impact of the plant closing announcement, workers were diligently making their production and quality numbers.

"Our members deserve a chance, a chance to learn new skills and a chance to have a future in the community where most have spent their entire lives," he said.

The Connersville plant makes compressors, evaporators and condensers for Ford and other car manufacturers.