Bosch Could Close Johnson City Plant
Representatives for a German company with ties to the Tri-Cities told 11 Connects its Johnson City plant could be on the chopping block.
The move would leave about 140 people out of work.
Wenesday afternoon, Robert Bosch L.L.C. officials told local employees the company is considering closing its Johnson City location.
The plant, on Twin Oaks Drive, makes brake drums, rotors and hubs for the automotive industry.
Company spokesperson Becky Macdonald told us the plant is currently working at 50 percent capacity.
She added, the next step in deciding whether to close the Johnson City facility is a meeting between Bosch officials and local United Auto Workers Union representatives.
Macdonald did not have a date for that meeting.
The reason the Johnson City Plant could be on the chopping block: Macdonald said the brake manufacturing business is a competitive environment, and the Johnson City plant is simply not competitive.
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First I would like to start this letter by saying, For the record, I am not a member of the UAW, But I do work with these people and will tell you, I believe we are one of the best work forces in the area.
After reading the news story in the J.C. Press on June 19 2009, about The “ possible” closing of Bosch , I thought you might want to hear the truth.
On Wed. 6/17/09, about 3;15pm, we were told by Fred Stewart ( Bosch Corporate Lawyer ) and Max Straub of Bosch that they were closing the Johnson City facility.
Mr. Stewart told us that this was “not a ploy to get concessions from the UAW”. We were being shut down and nothing could change that because we were, unprofitable, not running at full capacity, and many other reasons which could be debated
The truth behind the closing is that a majority of the employees were approaching 30 years of service, which meant that they could retire. I have 25 1/2 years myself, Those who have retired have done so on the point system ( age plus years of service ) only 1 person was retiring with 30 years of service, and he transferred here from Clinton, Mich.
Bosch has done the exact same thing in Clinton, Mich., Frankfurt, Ky. and Ashland, Ky. As these plants got close to retirement, they shut them down too.
So I thought you should know that the statements in the Press by Becky McDonald are false. Especially the ones where she says ‘the union could make concessions to make us more competitive’ was made for your benefit and anyone else who reads the paper, so when they close the plant it will fall back on the Union and make it look like the employees didn’t try to save their jobs.
Over the past 2 contracts with the UAW, they have already made plenty of concessions. Gave up “cost of living wage”, Gave up insurance for retirees, Gave up performance bonuses. Those are just a few of the concessions made.
For years upon years we have heard about “ Bosch Values” I guess now we will see first hand what kind of “values” The Bosch Corporation really have with their idea of a severance package when they lay us all off and move our jobs somewhere else
In the last three or four years bosch in Johnson City had more layoffs than ANY year the company has been in Johnson City. When bosch Johnson City started laying off, NO “supervisor” was ever laid off. It was ALWAYS the hourly employee who was let go, even today.
They have the same amount of “supervisors” with 80 hourly employees as they did when the company had over 300 hourly employees.
bosch doesn’t care about ANYONE. bosch is the sorriest company I’ve ever heard of,the workers are allowed to miss 3.4 days of work a year unexcused, doctor excuses aren’t allowed. If they have a family emergency and have to leave work that was counted as 1 of the days unexcused. What kind of company is that ?? Does that sound like a company who cares about there employees ??
Its piss poor “management”, that brought that local company down.
Not just local “management” but the “CEO’s “ of bosch. Underworked and overpaid.
I will NEVER buy any product made by bosch. Most of the plants they have employee temporary workers, So they don’t have to offer benifits or any security to the employees.
Its funny that bosch calls there employees “associates”. Associates look out for one another. What a joke
i am a union rep with Bosch j.c. it’s not the union that closed this plant its the union that has kept it open all these years, Bosch is a very strict company to work for and notoriously works against its union plants. the fact that we are a union plant is the reason why they chose to shut the doors, so many of us so close to retirement eligibility also played a big part in there decision. we only pray that they are fair and give us what they have promised us for 29 years. i hope that our city leaders step up to the plate also and help create well paying jobs to this area in the near future or this city will be a ghost town. god bless the unions, they fed us and they stood up for us against these greedy corporations like Bosch. at least my kids want have to work for them.
Isn’t it ironic that Bosch decides to skip town when a majority of the employees who started with Budd Co. in 1980 will have their 30 years in, and will be eligible to retire NEXT YEAR! Instead of honoring the employees with a 30 year and out retirement, Bosch management decides, as they always do, how can we fill our pockets at the expense of the hard working, one year away from retirement employees! Bosch employees have given in to Bosch management since they have been there. Bosch management has given themselves raises in hard, difficult economic times while the employees gave in without anything except the Bosch promise, a yearly trip to Dollywood! How many concessions and sacrifices has Bosch management made? I hope a meeting between management and the UAW will result in a solution to keep the plant open. But my guess it will be another one sided attempt by Bosch management to ride on the backs of the employees again, and maybe for the last time. If things don’t work out, maybe The Bosch Management Team won’t be to good to stand in the same unemployment line.
They make automotive brake parts. What’s the automotive business like? Sure they can make them cheaper in Mexico or someplace, but my guess is there are other factors involved. VW is currently building an automotive facility in Chattanooga and say they will use about 85% local supplied parts (course local is a loose term). Obiviously cheap labor is not their only consideration for building there.
Your still believing the same man for Hope & Change. Its now hope you can keep your job and keep a small amount of change in your pocket to eat on.
As the spouse of an employee that has provided over 20 years of loyal service to Bosch (formerly Bud Co.), this news is, needless to say, devastating. With only a few short years left to full retirement, my husband and many others will have to start over. The fact that the employees are part of a union plays no part in how everyone’s lives will change. The men and women who work at Bosch have provided many concessions over the years in order to keep their company competitive. When you read the article, please think of the employees and their families…it’s not about the union.
So sad to see yet another business that may be leaving. I wonder why it isn’t competitive. Can’t be the wages..this area is notorious for extremely low wages unless these workers fall under the automakers union and get paid much better than most here.
They keep saying that things are getting better…where are they getting better? My hours are being cut at work, everyone I know is being asked to take unpaid leave….
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