Kansas radiator plant closing (More jobs lost to NAFTA)

The Centre Daily Times ^ | Mon, Jul. 25, 2005 | Associated Press

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

EMPORIA, Kan. - Days after merging with a rival, the owners of a Kansas radiator plant said Monday the factory will close in September and leave 130 people unemployed.

The Modine Manufacturing Co. plant opened in Emporia in 1973 to build sheet-metal radiators for Ford Motor Co.

On Friday, Modine's aftermarket division merged with Transpro Inc., a Connecticut-based competitor, to form Proliance International Inc.

The merger will move production to two existing plants in Mexico, and the Emporia facility will be sold. Two regional plants and branch distribution centers in Denver and Seattle also will be closed.

Some of the plant's workers were told when they arrived at work Monday morning that they would be laid off immediately. Others will continue to work until late September when the plant shuts down. Laid-off employees will get two months' severance pay and help finding a new job.

Recently, the plant started making aftermarket radiators for cars, trucks and off-road equipment, but the market for those radiators had begun to shrink.

[sittnick]

I'd like to be in Tiajuana,

eating barbecued Iguana!

I'm on the Mexican ... radiator

(apologies to Wall of Voodoo)

[cripplecreek]

LOL

[Sunshine Sister]

This was a major leage shock to Emporia. On man interviewed last night said he had worked there for 33 years.

Boy howdy is he going to get another kick in the teeth. He didn't look old enough to retire so when he goes job hunting, he is going to be discriminated against because of his age. I feel so sorry for these people.

[TXBSAFH]

Free traitors strike again.

[Moleman]

Thanks for the post. This is bad news. Just wait five years, the Mexicans will lose their jobs as this business moves to China / India.

[sittnick]

Seriously, I think it is a bad idea to let your internal productive infrastructure collapse like we are.

How long before ALL the radiators come from Red China?

[fatnotlazy]

Sad, sad, sad.

And now we'll have CAFTA...wanna bet more jobs are lost?

Terrible thing is that these free trade schemes are supposed to benefit the participants. From what I've seen of NAFTA, it looks like no one who was supposed to get something has really benefitted. So where are all the profits going?

[Moral Hazard]

"On man interviewed last night said he had worked there for 33 years."

I've been laid off three times in the last three years. What's the big deal? Log onto Monster.com, send his resume to whatever company seems appropriate and he'll get hired soon enough.

[xcamel]

No, more jobs lost to UNION PIGGIES

Oink Oink Oink

Oh, and their demonrat handmaidens.

[cripplecreek]

Ive got a liberal uncle who puts our patriots of greed to shame. He runs a small company and ever lower profits but says he'll live under a bridge before he tosses his employees overboard to make a buck.

[Spirited]

Yes, but when the Mexicans lose their jobs they can always come to USA to live off those "free traitors" who still make money. Where will a US citizen go to feed his family?

[chimera]

So where are all the profits going?

The quarterly bottom line to boost share prices. Then the corporate officers get bigger bonuses and can cash in those options. Never let it be said that "free trade" didn't benefit (a very few) people. Trouble is, when they've sold out the last factory and the last US employee, what will those greedheads do to keep the cash flowing in? Heaven forbid they might actually have to make or invent something! Oh, the horror!

[Moral Hazard]

"He runs a small company and ever lower profits but says he'll live under a bridge before he tosses his employees overboard to make a buck."

That's basically what the laws in France require. See how effective it's been there?

[mysterio]

NAFTA has killed our manufacturing economy. If people weren't so apathetical and uninformed, they would certainly demand its repeal.

[fatnotlazy]

It's getting to the point where nothing will be manufactured in the U.S. Everything will have to be imported. Chit!

[cripplecreek]

Well he's proven himself to be a whole hell of a lot better man than some of our so called conservatives.

[BurbankKarl]

well, that and union greed.

[Sunshine Sister]

I've worked for 22 years at the same place. I don't have a resume. I don't even know how to look for work any more and I expect that is the situation same for this man.

Older workers don't always bounce back especially when this came out of the clear blue sky with no warning. Emporia has a real small employment market unless you want to slaughter beef.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

I am far more inclined to lay blame on the owners of the company for not letting the city of Emporia know what was going on so that the city could woo another company in to keep itself going. The city ought to hold the company owners accountable. At least the workers are getting two mons severence.
Emporia is a nice area, close to KC, Tulsa, Joplin. Tons of rail, hwy and close by barge commerce.
I also find it hard to believe that the employee didnot see any of this coming. Usually, if you keep your eyes open and mouth shut you know if things are or arn't happening.
Maybe they were just too much in denial.