Issues/Politics Chrysler cuts production in Fenton; 2,400 jobs will be lost | Chrysler cuts production in Fenton; 2,400 jobs will be lost |
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| By News organizations | |
| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 July 2008 ) | |
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Chrysler will shut down minivan production in Fenton and will reduce pickup production to one shift. The changes, spurred by slow sales and company financial goals, will happen in September and October. About 1,500 workers produce minivans here, and 900 are in the shift of Dodge Ram truck production that will be cut. The ripple affect on St. Louis' economy worries business and political leaders. Read full Wall Street Journal story.
What's especially disturbing about the layoffs: Chrysler had upgraded the plant recently. The ripple from the Chrysler layoffs may affect as many as 10,000 more jobs. The blow comes as St. Louis is already worried about InBev's bid to buy Anheuser-Busch. Read the Post-Dispatch article. Workers were sent home early after a Monday afternoon meeting at which details of the plan were explained, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Fenton plant builds Dodge Caravans and Chrysler Town and Country minivans, which are also produced in Windsor, Ont. Read the full article. Similar cuts are going on by other automakers, according to the Detroit Free Press. Read the full article. Chrysler can't unilaterally close the plant, so the company says it is being idled indefinitely. But Chrysler executive Tom LaSorda indicated there are no plans to reopen. See Reuters/Yahoo article. |
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Voices
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In the News
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch announced more cuts in content Monday, but is still covering politics aggressively. That's a good thing, Beacon contributing edtior Dick Weiss tells McGraw Milhaven on the McGraw Show on KTRS (550-AM).
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In the News
If protests about Tropic Thunder can make one person think instead of laugh when characters make fun of people with disabilities, they will have been worth it, according to a father whose son has autism.
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Law Scoop
The Obama campaign claims that Ed Martin's anti-Obama group violates federal election law. Election law experts say that the group may violate the law, but that federal election authorities won't do anything about it until after the election.
The Lens
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Who's the leader of the club that sues for excess use?
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