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.

[Moral Hazard]

"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."

Logging on to Monster.com, setting up an account, creating a resume, searching the job listings and applying for jobs is not substantially more difficult than logging on to freerepublic.com, creating an account and searching through the news listings for something interesting to post on.

[Moral Hazard]

"The city ought to hold the company owners accountable. "

And they should do this how?

[dljordan]

Not to worry, it's just another "buggy whip" factory closing. I'm sure all the laid off workers can get jobs in construction, landscaping, roofing, etc... No, wait, those jobs are all taken by god-fearing, family-values oriented, illegal aliens. Maybe Walmart is hiring.

Of course if CAFTA passes then we'll all be rich.

[muleskinner]

"Is That You Mo-Dean?" The inter-dimensional outer-space being.

obscure B-52's ref.

[Sunshine Sister]

There was no such thing as monster.com (or pc's) when I went to work at my present job. I had no idea it was that easy to do that stuff. They are all getting job counseling so hopefully this man and his coworkers will be okay.

It still might not be as easy for this man if he wants to stay in the same area.

[JHL]

Somebody owes Ross Perot an apology. The giant sucking sound is getting louder.

[Old Professer]

Am I the only one who finds it ironic that all these plants are closing here to move to Mexico and the "workers" in Mexico are coming here to work?

[Moleman]

Exactly my concern.

[lOKKI]

Blaming NAFTA is foolish and pointless. It did almost nothing to U.S. industrial jobs that wouldn't have happened anyhow. The only difference it made, perhaps, is to which country the jobs were exported. However, the jobs were leaving the country anyhow.

The globalization train left the station in about 1970. Even at that time, U.S. wage costs were uncompetitive with those of other countries. Mexico and Korea, and China were not players then because their infrastructures could not support large factories, and shipping to market was comparatively difficult.

Japan, however, was ready, and there was a huge boom in imports from there, even before the oil shock of 1973.

Anyhow, you could pull the plug on NAFTA and it wouldn't make a bit of difference. CAFTA won't either. At best, those agreements keep a few jobs from going to the Chinese, and hopefully will keep a few Mexicans and Central Americans at home.

[Toddsterpatriot]

NAFTA has killed our manufacturing economy.

Exactly.

If people weren't so apathetical and uninformed, they would certainly demand its repeal.

We've met the uninformed people and they are you. LOL!!

[Black Tooth]

The merger will move production to two existing plants in Mexico

American's get kicked in the head again.

[MinorityRepublican]

The merger will move production to two existing plants in Mexico

Better Mexico than China. At least this gives jobs to Mexicans so maybe they don't have to search for a job in the USA illegally.

[Busywhiskers]

"...more jobs lost to NAFTA."

Meanwhile the unemployment rate continues to perk along at about 5% which for all practical purposes in the American economy is full employment.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Better Mexico than China. At least this gives jobs to Mexicans so maybe they don't have to search for a job in the USA illegally.

Shhh, you'll just confuse them if you use logic. Repeat after me, the only thing worse than China is CAFTA...the only thing worse than China is CAFTA.

[Black Tooth]

At least this gives jobs to Mexicans so maybe they don't have to search for a job in the USA illegally.

You have just implied that moving these facilites will stop the other millions from entering our country illegally, taking our jobs, driving down our wages.

[Clemenza]

Folks who don't want to move to improve their life have nobody to blame but themselves. I HATE Seattle, but had to move here for my career. That's life!

Get thee on to Monster rust belters. Then get in your car and drive away from your dying town.

[Clemenza]

DEY TUHK ER JAHHHHHHBBBBBS!

[RckyRaCoCo]

Emporia has a real small employment market unless you want to slaughter beef.

I worked at Didde-Webb Press back in the 90's. Didn't they close shop and move to Colorado(then shut down altogether)?

[judgeandjury]

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

The United States and France are dissimilar in many ways. Laws, regulations, customs, traditions, politics, and the general mindset of the populace all contribute to how well things work or don't work in a particular country.

[atlanta67]

NAFTA has been around for over 10 years, most of the dislocation has already occurred..also it isnt like the US had high tariffs on Mexico before NAFTA or that no american business ever relocated to MExico before 1993.