Today #BernieSanders will visit Lordstown, Ohio, where GM is shutting down a plant that will throw more than 5,000 people out of work. The ripple effect of these lost jobs will inflict more economic damage to the local economy, as parts suppliers, restaurants, etc., suffer losses associated with these layoffs.
The United Auto Workers is striking back at GM, filing suit against General Motors on behalf of their union members:
Last week, the United Auto Workers union sued General Motors over its plans to shutter three of the plants, including Lordstown. The union claims that the decision violates the union's labor contract.It's asking the court to order GM to reverse the closures. It's also seeking damages for affected employees, including back wages and benefits.GM said in a statement last week that the company has not violated the provisions of its labor contract with the union.
GM’s actions in closing various plants across the country, is a slap in the face to US taxpayers who bailed their sorry behinds out:
U.S. taxpayers lost more than $11.2 billion as a result of the federal bailout of General Motors, according to a government report released Wednesday.
The $11.2-billion loss includes a $826-million write-off in March from government investments in the “Old GM” before the company’s 2009 bankruptcy, the report said. The U.S. government spent $49.5 billion to bail out GM, and after the company’s bankruptcy in 2009, the government’s investment was converted to a 61 percent equity stake in the company. The Treasury gradually sold off its stock in GM, selling its last shares in December 2013.
We cannot allow corporations that take US tax dollars to move jobs overseas. And moving forward, we need to make sure that in the future, taxpayers dollars go to companies willing to invest in our communities.
Watch Bernie Sanders’ town hall meeting in Lordstown with GM employees and teachers from the American Federation of Teachers on Facebook Live Sunday around 1 pm EST.