Nearly 250 IAM Members in a tiny community of Western New York were left reeling Monday afternoon when Siemens officials suddenly announced the impending sale, and closure of the historic Dresser Rand plant in tiny Wellsville.
Siemens officials met with members of IAM Local 1580 at the facility dropping the bombshell announcement that Curtiss-Wright is purchasing the Dresser-Rand government business and services portfolio, and that the commercial Power Generation Services work performed at Dresser-Rand will eventually be transferred to Charlotte and other Siemens facilities.
“The announcement by Siemens officials on Monday came without warning, and without any regard to the workers, their families, nor the future of their families,” said District 65 Directing Business Representative Ron Warner. “I met with the Representatives of IAM Local 1580, and the company on Tuesday, but at this time they have not provided information on how the closure will proceed, and more importantly a detailed timeline.”
“I will work with the Local 1580 Representatives, and the IAM International to assist our members in every way possible, and assure that our members have the resources necessary going forward,” said Warner. “Make no mistake, this will eviscerate this community. These are good jobs, that reach deeply into this community, and in many cases two, and even three generations deep.”
“Sadly, this is becoming an all-too-familiar method of doing business by Siemens,” added Eastern Territory General Vice President Jimmy Conigliaro, Sr. “Acquiring long-standing companies deeply rooted into communities, cherry picking the product line they want, and selling what remains to the highest bidder without regard for the communities, or the working families. Workers in Mount Vernon, OH at Local 90 – that traces its roots in the community back nearly 112 years, faced a similar situation last year when the Rolls-Royce plant was purchased by Siemens.”
“Dresser-Rand and their dedicated employees have been a staple in the Wellsville community for over 100 years,” said International President Bob Martinez. “This decision by Siemens shows that they have no loyalty to working families and local communities.”
The IAM has represented workers at the plant since 1942.
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Source:: iMail