AM I NEXT? IS THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL AT GOODYEAR TIRE & COOPER TIRE? (03/19/23)

MARCH 19, 2023 — 500 EMPLOYEES TARGETED

Goodyear has announced that they are reducing salaried staff globally by about 5%, or 500 positions, through the first six months of 2023 and that they cannot provide a definitive answer about cuts in Cooper Tire’s Findlay offices. The cuts are said to be linked to a global slowdown in the replacement tire business.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 — 80 LAYOFFS IN CONTINUING REORGANIZATION.

According to a company statement,

“Cooper continues to respond to changes in the tire industry, transforming our company to best position us for long-term profitable growth.

These changes include addressing our organizational structure, a process that has resulted in the reorganization of certain departments, and the elimination of approximately 80 salaried positions within North America.

This includes approximately 60 salaried positions in Findlay [Ohio] with the vast majority of those being corporate roles. The remainder of the eliminated positions are salaried roles in Tupelo [Mississipi] and Texarkana [Texas], with most being in Texarkana.

While a decision to eliminate positions is very difficult, the reorganization will help our business operate more effectively and efficiently and will align our people to deliver the transformation necessary to execute our strategic plans and drive growth.”

MARCH 3, 2021— Original post…

Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, the large American multinational tire manufacturing company, has announced the purchase of Findlay, Ohio-based Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, a maker of replacement automobile and truck tires specialty tires for medium truck, motorcycle, and racing tires for $2.8 billion.

As with any acquisition, there comes a reduction in force where duplicative products, processes, and personnel are eliminated to streamline operations and reduce costs.

A company spokesperson has noted, "The initial cost benefits will come from combining corporate functions, research and development, and procurement. And while no manufacturing jobs or plants are being eliminated initially, the companies said they see opportunities to leverage their combined production system."

“As we develop business plans, we’ll start to take a look at what opportunities, including revenue growth and including how to better leverage the combined manufacturing footprint, we might be able to get. We definitely feel like those opportunities are going to be there.”

The acquisition is subject to shareholder and regulatory permissions and is expected to close in the second-half of 2021.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT DANA (05/04/2025)

MAY 4, 2025 — LIMA, OHIO DRIVESHAFT FACILITY TO CLOSE, 300 EMPLOYEES TO LOSE THEIR JOBS

The company has announced that it will be closing its Dana Driveshaft Manufacturing facility in Lima, Ohio, manufacturing facility by the end of 2025.

The closure will impact 295 hourly employees starting on June 30, 2025, and continuing through the end of the year.

A spokesperson noted, "When we announced this action last year, we stated that the eventual closure of the commercial vehicle driveshaft assembly facility in Lima, Ohio, aligns with Dana’s long-standing strategy to optimize and improve its manufacturing capabilities, including through the consolidation of similar operations. The assembly operations are being moved from Lima to existing Dana facilities in the U.S. We expect the transfer to be completed by the end of 2025."

FEBRUARY 12, 2021 — Original post…

Toledo, Ohio-based Dana Inc., a manufacturer of automotive drive train components and axles, has announced the closure of its Dana Light Axle Products service parts and export packaging center located in Albion, Indiana. The closure will impact all 43 full-time and 30 temporary employees beginning on April 30, 2021, and will be completed by May 31, 2021.

According to a company spokesperson, "The decision to close the Albion plant was difficult but ultimately necessary in order to maximize Dana's ability to be competitive within difficult market conditions."

In addition to the Albion closure, the company will also lay off 75 workers at the company's axle plant in Syracuse, Indiana, commencing in May.

The Syracuse decision was driven by a DaimlerChrysler decision to produce axle components internally.

Both work actions are part of a major restructuring plan involving plant closures and consolidations to adjust capacity to demand and better position the company during financially difficult times.

"Two years ago, it began eliminating 11,000 jobs through plant closings and consolidations. Those reductions came on top of about 10,000 job cuts because of declining auto production and slow U.S. sales."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT MARELLI (09/23/21)

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 — MARELLI TO CUT 1,500 POSITIONS WORLDWIDE

Marelli has announced a major restructuring that will see ten new business units and six divisions, along with a major reduction in force of 1,500 employees worldwide. mostly in staff support positions.

Marelli was formed in 2019 after New York City, New York-based KKR, an investment management company, closed its acquisition of Magneti Marelli from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and is now engaging in financial engineering. The company is said to be considering the sale of its suspension systems business as they concentrate on profitable operations with future promise.

DECEMBER 22, 2020 — Original post…

Southfield, Michigan-based Marelli North America, a manufacturer of automotive components including powertrain components, suspension systems. climate-control, engine-cooling, and exhaust systems have announced that the company will be closing its Sanford, North Carolina facility in the second half of 2021, and laying off 329 employees as operations are off-shored to Saltillo, Mexico.

According to a company spokesperson, "The automotive industry is facing a number of prolonged challenges. Vehicle volumes are trending downward, exacerbated by Covid-19, while the introduction of new technology from non-traditional suppliers is forcing Tier 1s to review their operations to increase competitiveness."

The overal economic downturn and travel restrictions have severely impacted vehicle production. sales, and repairs. Moreover, the introduction of electric vehicles and hybrids is impacting traditional motor vehicles.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?