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Massive layoffs looming for Sealy -- Loss of Army contract blamed for 'brutal blow'
HOUSTON CHRONICLE ^ | Wednesday, August 04, 2010 | ALLAN TURNER and MOISES MENDOZA

Posted on 08/04/2010 8:26:55 PM PDT by Willie Green

When Stephanie Litchauer heard the news about potential massive layoffs at military contractor BAE Systems Wednesday she was at first floored. Then she felt deeply worried about the future of her business and all of Sealy.

"It's a brutal blow, it's as simple as that," said Litchauer, the owner of Creekmore's Sports Bar, a favorite local haunt for employees of the military contractor. "For a community that's so small, having all those employees that go to the bars and restaurants disappear will be devastating."

BAE has for almost two decades been the largest employer in Sealy, population 5,200. But Wednesday it announced it will slash its global tactical systems workforce in Texas and Michigan by almost half by year's end. That means as many 1,300 of 2,900 positions will be cut, with 97 percent of them in the Sealy-Houston-Katy area, said BAE spokesman Mike Teegardin.

(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: baesystems; sealy
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1 posted on 08/04/2010 8:26:58 PM PDT by Willie Green
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To: Willie Green

More of this administration’s punishing of states who didn’t vote for him.


2 posted on 08/04/2010 8:28:26 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Willie Green

Welcome to the Obama recovery.


3 posted on 08/04/2010 8:30:29 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Willie Green

Hope someone is checking on who determined why the mattress was yanked from Sealy.


4 posted on 08/04/2010 8:31:28 PM PDT by hampdenkid
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To: dfwgator

Who needs them???


5 posted on 08/04/2010 8:32:36 PM PDT by BooBoo1000 ("He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live only for themselves' Romans 2:8)
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To: dfwgator

Who needs them???


6 posted on 08/04/2010 8:32:40 PM PDT by BooBoo1000 ("He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live only for themselves' Romans 2:8)
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To: Willie Green

Soldiers now need to sleep on Posturepedic mattresses? Gimme a BREAK!!! Oh wait a second...;)


7 posted on 08/04/2010 8:36:46 PM PDT by Frank_2001
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To: Willie Green
with 97 percent of them in the Sealy-Houston-Katy area

Just trying to keep the administration happy by targeting Texas.

8 posted on 08/04/2010 8:36:53 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Willie Green

How’s that hopy changy thing workin out for ya’?


9 posted on 08/04/2010 8:38:59 PM PDT by 9422WMR (Illegal is not a race)
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To: Frank_2001

I am new, so forgive me if I missed the joke.

They make targeting systems from the way it reads. Sealy is the name of the town ;)


10 posted on 08/04/2010 8:39:43 PM PDT by cableguymn
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To: hampdenkid

I’d start in Wisconsin.


11 posted on 08/04/2010 8:57:34 PM PDT by Bhoy
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To: Willie Green

The reader comments on that story from the democrat seminar posters are totally disgusting.


12 posted on 08/04/2010 9:00:09 PM PDT by 38special (Remember in November!)
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To: hampdenkid
Hope someone is checking on who determined why the mattress was yanked from Sealy.

Because there was a better proposal from a contractor in Wisconsin (Oshkosh Corp.). Oshkosh was awarded it repeatedly, after protest and re-evaluations. This contract was awarded

Tirey acknowledged the cuts will hurt. "These weren't $6- or $8-an-hour jobs," he said. "These were good jobs. This was one of the better-paying employers."

Paying above the market value, it seems. Even after they had already cut something like 20% off what they are charging us now, BAE tried to get 20% more than Oshkosh's price, from what I recall. Of course, my memory ain't what it used to be, but I think that's at least ballpark.


So for the most part, the jobs didn't vanish...they just moved. Oshkosh has invested in a new facility ($30-40 million).


Perhaps if the union and employees had agreed to cut costs, they wouldn't have had to move.

13 posted on 08/04/2010 9:06:44 PM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: cableguymn

I thought this is in reference to the truck contract.


14 posted on 08/04/2010 9:07:21 PM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: Gondring

Wisconsin - voted for Obama, Texas did not.

Coincidenza?


15 posted on 08/04/2010 9:08:34 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Willie Green

Sealy, Texas is the home town of NFL running back Hershel Walker.


16 posted on 08/04/2010 9:13:27 PM PDT by blam
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To: dfwgator
Wow! He sure got to the Army quickly! The bid solicitation went out a month after his inauguration!

And amazing trickery, how his GAO blocked the initial transfer to Wisconsin, but the Army rebid and sent it to Wisconsin anyway! Evil Army!

17 posted on 08/04/2010 9:15:30 PM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: dfwgator

I think the Dems wanted it to stay in Texas.


18 posted on 08/04/2010 9:16:33 PM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: Willie Green
In other news, a couple of weeks ago...

BAE union workers reject deal

July 18, 2010--Workers in United Steelworkers Local 7687 voted unanimously Sunday to reject a contract offer with BAE Systems, said union president Dana Edsall.

[...]

"It's not a contract. It's unfair," said assembler John Holmes, who planned to voted against the offer. "They want us to sacrifice so they can make more profit."

Doug Breese, a machinist, said he would also vote no, in part because the contract would place non-union employees on the production line with union workers.

"That goes against what a union is for," Breese said.
How can people have no clue about market values and competition? Oh, yeah...public schools run by the Left.
19 posted on 08/04/2010 9:20:05 PM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: Gondring

Who’s more unionized? The plant in Oshkosh, WI or the plant in Sealy, TX?

Or is it just politics?


Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) is the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, while Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) is a defense appropriator. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is the ranking member of the House Budget committee.

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) sits on the Senate Budget panel as well as the Foreign Relations and Intelligence panels.


20 posted on 08/04/2010 9:24:35 PM PDT by smokingfrog (freerepublic.com - Now 100% flag free.)
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