DETROIT—At the Jefferson North Plant here, there was cause for celebration last week when President Obama paid workers a visit. The plant was slated to be closed in 2012, instead it will stay open and add a shift.
During the plant rally for Obama’s visit, Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne praised the staff. He said the greatest difference since the company’s bankruptcy and reorganization was “the quality and the attitude of the people in this plant.”
Some of the plant employees have worked for major auto manufacturers in America including two who worked for 16 years at Chrysler. All returned to work after a period of unemployment.
Assembly worker Rob Turner Jr. has survived multiple layoffs in 16 years. He said during those times he was glad even to find part-time work.
“It is a new start for us and a fresh start and where we could have been written off and put in the historical books but now we have a fresh start for a bright future,” said Turner. “We are just excited about what this means for our future and the future of our company.”
Chris Mitchell, quality engineer in Manufacturing, returned to work in January after a 2007 layoff. He said he took advantage of his layoff to go to his native England and care for his elderly mother. Mitchell came back to the United States at the end of the year, and returned to work. He originally came to America in 1984 and has worked for all the major auto companies.
Mitchell said the government’s intervention in the situation with the auto companies helped him directly.
“Now it is picking up again and they are rehiring so I am pretty much in the same place I was before, so I am quite happy about it,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell, who specializes in the interior of the Grand Cherokee, feels proud of the car.
“I think that it is night and day better than the one we had previous,” said Mitchell. “The quality is much nicer now, much better.”
Sereta Harrell is a newcomer to Chrysler. She said she’d been out of work for three or four years and was grateful for the government help to the auto industry.
“Without the loan they gave Chrysler, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Harrell.
Dellisa Powell has worked for Chrysler for 16 years. She was laid off, and rehired about two years ago.
“You know we were unsure a couple of years ago about what was going to happen with Chrysler so this has given us longevity, for us and our families,” said Powell.
She added that her work life has also improved after the expanded production at the Detroit plant.
“It opened up where they did a lot of building in the plant,” said Powell. “We have two shifts and they are going to be bringing on a third shift. So we’re all excited.” She said she was “still in assembly but I have a better position than I had before. So that worked out in my favor.”
With reporting by Valerie Avore
During the plant rally for Obama’s visit, Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne praised the staff. He said the greatest difference since the company’s bankruptcy and reorganization was “the quality and the attitude of the people in this plant.”
Some of the plant employees have worked for major auto manufacturers in America including two who worked for 16 years at Chrysler. All returned to work after a period of unemployment.
Assembly worker Rob Turner Jr. has survived multiple layoffs in 16 years. He said during those times he was glad even to find part-time work.
“It is a new start for us and a fresh start and where we could have been written off and put in the historical books but now we have a fresh start for a bright future,” said Turner. “We are just excited about what this means for our future and the future of our company.”
Chris Mitchell, quality engineer in Manufacturing, returned to work in January after a 2007 layoff. He said he took advantage of his layoff to go to his native England and care for his elderly mother. Mitchell came back to the United States at the end of the year, and returned to work. He originally came to America in 1984 and has worked for all the major auto companies.
Mitchell said the government’s intervention in the situation with the auto companies helped him directly.
“Now it is picking up again and they are rehiring so I am pretty much in the same place I was before, so I am quite happy about it,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell, who specializes in the interior of the Grand Cherokee, feels proud of the car.
“I think that it is night and day better than the one we had previous,” said Mitchell. “The quality is much nicer now, much better.”
Sereta Harrell is a newcomer to Chrysler. She said she’d been out of work for three or four years and was grateful for the government help to the auto industry.
“Without the loan they gave Chrysler, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Harrell.
Dellisa Powell has worked for Chrysler for 16 years. She was laid off, and rehired about two years ago.
“You know we were unsure a couple of years ago about what was going to happen with Chrysler so this has given us longevity, for us and our families,” said Powell.
She added that her work life has also improved after the expanded production at the Detroit plant.
“It opened up where they did a lot of building in the plant,” said Powell. “We have two shifts and they are going to be bringing on a third shift. So we’re all excited.” She said she was “still in assembly but I have a better position than I had before. So that worked out in my favor.”
With reporting by Valerie Avore
