A full court press is underway by a growing coalition of IAM leaders, state and local representatives to convince G.E. Aviation to abandon its planned closure of an Albuquerque, NM, jet engine facility that has been an economic driver in the area for nearly four decades.
Earlier this month, G.E. announced it would close the facility in the fall of 2010, a move that would put more than 400 members of Local 794 out of work and drain the local economy of an additional 1,000 jobs and more than $30 million in annual economic activity.
Since the announcement, IAM representatives have petitioned local, state and national lawmakers to join the effort to keep the profitable facility in Albuquerque, rather than shift the work to locations in other states.
“The IAM and G.E. are engaged in ‘Decision Bargaining’ over this issue, which will last for 60 days before G.E. can make a final determination to close the site or not,” said Local 794 President Ernest “Red” Dow. “Unless the parties mutually agree to extend the date, we have until September 25, 2009, to come up with ideas.”
An example of the effort to keep the facility in Albuquerque can be seen in the recent television interview with Bernalillo County Commissioner Art De La Cruz, who supports keeping the plant and the jobs right where they are.
