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laundry_queen

(8,646 posts)
20. I simply cannot find that information anywhere.
Sun Feb 5, 2012, 04:10 AM
Feb 2012

If someone can find me financial statements for that plant I'll gladly look over them.

However, anyone who knows how these companies work, knows that it's likely that they were making a profit (hello, Caterpillar in general had record profits last year). It's equally likely that the bean counters didn't think it was a 'big enough profit'. Meaning, in large companies, they will open whole divisions with a goal of, say 40% gross margin, and if they only get 35% they will shut the whole thing down.

And THAT is why our current system is completely unsustainable without slave wages and continued exploitation of workers and resources.

It really doesn't matter that some jobs at half the wage are better than no jobs, or that Indiana needs the jobs more than London does. Big picture, people. The large companies are bleeding the 'little people' dry. They will play us against each other so they get that extra 5% in gross margin. They will destroy lives, close plants, move jobs overseas (where this plant is probably heading next) and in the mean time taxpayers have subsidized these assholes with tax breaks/incentives so they can pick up and move on to somewhere else (and bleed THOSE taxpayers dry) just as soon as they can make even MORE profit in the town next door.

Race to the bottom.

Until everyone - and I do mean everyone of the 99%ers - stand up against this shit, it will keep happening. Again, and again. And the more you spew crap like, "well, they have a right to move where there is more profit." you are enabling them - you may as well be helping them to lock out those workers.

Electro-Motive plant shut by U.S. owner [View all] Canuckistanian Feb 2012 OP
Lock-outs should be illegal. baldguy Feb 2012 #1
I'm so sorry to see this. Looks like those jobs are about to be outsourced to Brickbat Feb 2012 #2
Strange - most people on DU always seem to want US companies to build in the US dmallind Feb 2012 #28
Don't know what to tell you. Brickbat Feb 2012 #30
And this is where you occupy the factory. joshcryer Feb 2012 #3
The mayor of Muncie sent condolences to the workers in Canada Canuckistanian Feb 2012 #4
Changing any system carla Feb 2012 #5
I agree, as much as I hope OWS achieves it's goals. Its going to take more than nonviolence. Katashi_itto Feb 2012 #26
It also lead to a war-mongering emperor. dmallind Feb 2012 #29
I feel for my Union brothers and sister's at Electro-Motive. jschurchin Feb 2012 #6
It was General Motors Electro Motive Division until 2005 FarCenter Feb 2012 #7
I work for a large railroad tgoo jschurchin. Jazzgirl Feb 2012 #8
because of this gawdawful stinking new board system iverglas Feb 2012 #9
Had not followed the EMD's for quite some time used to be known as Electro-Motive Division of GM. sce56 Feb 2012 #10
forgive me, but iverglas Feb 2012 #11
The other thread was more on point Honest Turtle Feb 2012 #12
that is exactly what the story is about ;) iverglas Feb 2012 #13
My question is while caterpillar might be earning profits how was this specific plant doing? cstanleytech Feb 2012 #14
they're the ones that bought it less than 2 years ago iverglas Feb 2012 #15
They bought the maintenance work and the customer list FarCenter Feb 2012 #16
I'm sorry, but this makes no sense to me iverglas Feb 2012 #17
My question wasnt why they bought it but was it making them money or not? cstanleytech Feb 2012 #18
I simply cannot find that information anywhere. laundry_queen Feb 2012 #20
I agree with you that there is an issue with the companies not being paying most of the workers a cstanleytech Feb 2012 #21
the question remains iverglas Feb 2012 #23
I'm not suggesting anything. cstanleytech Feb 2012 #24
you may want to look into the history iverglas Feb 2012 #25
The Progress Rail susidiary of Cat bought EMD as a whole from the private equity group FarCenter Feb 2012 #22
All I can say is, Jesus, I'm obviously in the wrong business. truthisfreedom Feb 2012 #19
Whole lot of union-busting and attempts at same in that city lately. (nt) Posteritatis Feb 2012 #27
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