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General Motors Plant  SURVEY: Is GM Making The Right Move?SURVEY: Who Do You Blame? TALKBACK: What Do You Think? READ: Doyle: Janesville Plant Closing Is Like Death In FamilyREAD: State Officials Reviewing $10M Given To GMREAD: Janesville Looks Ahead to Retraining GM Workers for New JobsREAD: Residents Uncertain About Future After GM Plant's ClosureREAD: GM Plant Closing Difficult For Workers, Families VIDEO: Auto Expert Dissects GM's Decision |
Residents React To New GM Talks
Plant Set To Close By 2010
UPDATED: 10:41 am CDT September 14,
2008
JANESVILLE, Wis. -- The General Motors CEO said the company will seriously review an incentive package to keep its Janesville plant open.VIDEO: Watch The ReportThat's the word following Friday's meeting between Rick Wagoner, Sen. Russ Feingold and Rep. Tammy Baldwin in Washington.Some 500 miles away, Gov. Jim Doyle and Rep. Paul Ryan were meeting with GM leaders in Detroit, laying out a strong, comprehensive proposal to keep GM in Janesville.The automaker is set to shut down the plant by 2010, due in part to the impact high gas prices have had on SUV sales.The talks had football fans hoping for a win in Janesville Friday night.Monterey Stadium was packed with fans, watching Janesville-Parker High School take on Madison West.While all eyes were on the field, the backdrop reflected what's on everyone's mind.The stadium sits directly across the river from the GM plant.At the game, it was difficult to find anyone without a connection to GM."My father worked there for 30 years and retired, my brother worked there for 30 years and retired, I have a sister-in-law who works in the office at GM," said Jeannie Johnson of Janesville.Johnson's opinion of Friday's talks isn't optimistic."I'm glad they did go out there and try to help the guys keep their jobs, but I don't know how much it's going to help," said Johnson.Another Parker fan, Norm Tadt, had a different take and hoped state leaders can make an impact. "It's not going to hurt anything to try. If you don't try, you can't expect GM to keep things here and not worry about it, but it shows some local support, and the city has done a lot," said Tadt.But there are others who left GM, fearing the future."I retired early because I thought that something would happen to this plant, and I already came from two plants that closed," said Ed Zelinski.Zelinski started working for GM more than 30 years ago in Chicago.When that plant closed, he transferred to Flint, Mich., and transferred to Janesville when the Michigan plant closed.A winner was declared on the field Friday night, but fans like Zelinski are still waiting for an outcome in Detroit."I mean, it could go either way. How do I feel? I don't have to worry about it anymore. I just hope that everything goes good for them," said Zelinski.Right now, all anyone can really do is sit back and wait.Everyone's hopeful good news will come by the holidays.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThat's the word following Friday's meeting between Rick Wagoner, Sen. Russ Feingold and Rep. Tammy Baldwin in Washington.Some 500 miles away, Gov. Jim Doyle and Rep. Paul Ryan were meeting with GM leaders in Detroit, laying out a strong, comprehensive proposal to keep GM in Janesville.The automaker is set to shut down the plant by 2010, due in part to the impact high gas prices have had on SUV sales.The talks had football fans hoping for a win in Janesville Friday night.Monterey Stadium was packed with fans, watching Janesville-Parker High School take on Madison West.While all eyes were on the field, the backdrop reflected what's on everyone's mind.The stadium sits directly across the river from the GM plant.At the game, it was difficult to find anyone without a connection to GM."My father worked there for 30 years and retired, my brother worked there for 30 years and retired, I have a sister-in-law who works in the office at GM," said Jeannie Johnson of Janesville.Johnson's opinion of Friday's talks isn't optimistic."I'm glad they did go out there and try to help the guys keep their jobs, but I don't know how much it's going to help," said Johnson.Another Parker fan, Norm Tadt, had a different take and hoped state leaders can make an impact. "It's not going to hurt anything to try. If you don't try, you can't expect GM to keep things here and not worry about it, but it shows some local support, and the city has done a lot," said Tadt.But there are others who left GM, fearing the future."I retired early because I thought that something would happen to this plant, and I already came from two plants that closed," said Ed Zelinski.Zelinski started working for GM more than 30 years ago in Chicago.When that plant closed, he transferred to Flint, Mich., and transferred to Janesville when the Michigan plant closed.A winner was declared on the field Friday night, but fans like Zelinski are still waiting for an outcome in Detroit."I mean, it could go either way. How do I feel? I don't have to worry about it anymore. I just hope that everything goes good for them," said Zelinski.Right now, all anyone can really do is sit back and wait.Everyone's hopeful good news will come by the holidays.
Previous Stories:
- September 12, 2008: Doyle Makes Proposal To GM Executives
- September 11, 2008: Governor Headed To Detroit To Talk With GM
- September 9, 2008: Doyle Will Present Plan To GM For Keeping Janesville Plant Open
- September 9, 2008: GM Recalls 300,000 Sport Utility Vehicles
- August 29, 2008: GM Recalling 944,000 Vehicles
- July 29, 2008: Wisconsin Seeks Federal Aid For GM Workers
- July 28, 2008: GM Sets Non-Production Weeks For Janesville Plant
- July 24, 2008: Rail Transportation Could Be Key In Post GM Era For Janesville
- July 16, 2008: Wisconsin Unlikely To Recoup Money Given To GM
- July 16, 2008: GM To Speed Up Closure Of Janesville Plant
- June 24, 2008: GM Officials To Stop Production In Janesville For Weeks
- June 20, 2008: GM Plant To Lay Off Additional 96 Workers By September
- June 5, 2008: Janesville Leaders Plot Rebound After GM Plant Closes
- June 5, 2008: GM Plant Closing Difficult For Workers, Families
- June 4, 2008: Janesville Looks Ahead To Retraining GM Workers For New Jobs
- June 4, 2008: GM To Close Janesville Assembly Plant By 2010
- June 3, 2008: Doyle: Janesville Plant Closing Is Like Death In Family
- June 3, 2008: Residents Uncertain About Future After GM Plant's Closure
- June 3, 2008: State Officials Reviewing $10M Given To GM
- June 3, 2008: Residents Fear Ripple Effect If GM Plant Closes
- May 7, 2008: GM Layoffs Could Endanger Multimillion-Dollar State Grant
- April 30, 2008: Rock County Job Center Braces For Flood Of Ex-GM Workers
- April 29, 2008: GM Slashes Shift At Janesville Plant
- April 9, 2008: Janesville GM Workers Laid Off Due To Production Cuts
- March 19, 2008: GM To Temporarily Layoff Some Janesville Workers
- March 13, 2008: Janesville GM Plant To Temporarily Lay Off Some Workers
- March 6, 2008: GM: Janesville Plant To Shorten Shifts Next Week
- February 13, 2008: GM Offers Employees Buyout
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