"U-S Jobs are worth fighting for." That was the main message from a protest rally Monday against the possible closing of the Chrysler engine plant in Kenosha. Hundreds of union workers at the plant, and their families and friends, took to the streets with signs saying "Invest in America," and "Kenosha Yes, Mexico No."
The struggling automaker says it wants to close Kenosha and seven other plants next year, while adding another engine facility in Saltillo Mexico. The United Auto Workers' president in Kenosha, Glenn Stark, calls that a "betrayal." He said Chrysler promised numerous times to build the company's new Phoenix engine in Kenosha, and he says the work should stay there.
All Chrysler plants are closed this month due to the company's Chapter-11 bankruptcy filing. When they re-open, Stark wants the corporate officials to change their minds and keep the Kenosha plant running.
UAW regional director Dennis Williams called on Congress and President Obama to keep the Kenosha jobs in this country, especially now that tax dollars are involved in running Chrysler. Union regional rep John Drew said Kenosha workers have been building Chrysler cars for 107 years, and they won't go down without a fight.