Daimler Chrysler has recently announced that 13,000 automobile workers, or 16 percent of its total workforce would be laid off as part of a cost-cutting plan in response to a 40 percent fourth-quarter decline in profit, according to an Associated Press news story.
Another plant supplied by JCI, General Motors, reduced its workforce by 30,000 in 2005.
Daimler Chrysler said it plans to close a plant in Delaware and reduce shifts and workforce in Warren, Mich., and St. Louis. A parts distribution center in Cleveland would be closed in the plan as well.
Johnson Controls, Inc., the largest single employer in Cadiz provides components for Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and several foreign manufacturers.
The Cadiz Record contacted JCI Plant Manager Mike Bolen for comment. Bolen would not respond to direct questions as to how the closings might affect the Cadiz plant. Instead he directed inquiries to JCI Public Affairs Officer Debbie Lacey.
Following nearly a week of no response, Lacy told the Record Monday, she had no knowledge of what portion of the Cadiz plant’s production was tied to the Chrysler closing.
Lacey also said that she had no information specific to the Cadiz plant regarding decreased orders from manufacturers or possible layoffs. Asked about layoffs in JCI’s total workforce, Lacey said, “I would not want to speculate on that.”
For the rest of the story on JCI, read the latest edition of The Cadiz Record.
