Nearly 60 IAM Local 1010 Members are reeling after Siemens officials suddenly announced the closure of its historic plant in the small community of Burlington, Iowa.
Siemens officials met with members of IAM Local 1010 at the facility dropping the bombshell announcement early last week. The news comes on the heels of two previous Siemens plant closings announced back in February, affecting IAM Local 1580 members in Wellsville, NY and Local 90 members in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Read “New York Machinists to Fight Dresser-Rand Plant Closure”
IAM members at Siemens in Burlington produce steam turbines for other manufacturing companies. The facility, though under various owners, and its IAM workforce have been a part of the Burlington community for nearly 150 years.
The effects of the closing are sure to be felt widespread, says IAM District 6 Directing Business Representative Scott Webster and IAM Local 1010 President Chris Tucker.
“In true corporate fashion, the announcement by Siemens officials came without warning, and without any regard to the workers, their families, and the entire Burlington and surrounding communities dependent upon these jobs as an economic base,” said Webster.
“IAM Local 1010 members are a vital part of the Burlington community,” said Tucker. “They are the most highly-skilled, highest-paid workforce here. This closure will devastate not only IAM members and their families, but the entire town.”
“Unfortunately, this latest closure in Iowa is a devastating pattern by Siemens,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “This pattern of destroying communities and the dreams of working people is a prime example of Siemen’s corporate greed. The Machinists Union will use all our resources to support the approximately 60 IAM working families and the Burlington community.”
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