
Pattern Maker Klaus Krahe knows how painful an economic downturn
can be. Laid-off in 2000, he has long since used up all of his
unemployment benefits. "I'm not going to give up," he
vows. "I'm going to keep on trying."
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Normal

North America is the world’s richest industrial
economy, with the most productive workforce on earth. But for how much
longer? What will be left if we continue selling off our best jobs?
Revitalizing
North
America's Might
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Auto Industry
Squeeze Hits Hard
The
auto business runs in cycles. Righ now, business is way down. The latest
down-cycle is hitting one group particularly hard: Big Auto's supplier
companies and their highly-skilled employees.
The suppliers have weathered a rocky 10-year period, with automakers
squeezing them hard for even-deeper price cuts and low-wage foreign
competitors emerging as major players in the industry.
"We've been bleeding members," said Jon Winterhalter,
Directing Business representative from PM 2848 in Warren, Michigan.
Winterhalter represents a highly-skilled group of workers who create
full-size mockups of products, an essential part of the automobile
design process.
Yet, Winterhalter said, more than a third of his members have lost their
jobs during the past decade.
Pattern Maker Klaus Krahe knows how painful an economic downturn can be.
Laid-off in 2000, he has long since used up all of his unemployment
benefits.
The 62-year old journeyman looks 50, outworks 20-year olds and, despite
40 years of experience, cannot find a job. "They won't say it, but
I know my age is a factor," said Krahe.
Krahe and his wife have dipped into their savings and 401(k) plan to
make ends meet. Still he is resolute. "I'm not going to give
up," he vows. "I'm going to keep on trying."

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