Tears, memories as Siemens closes

[socialshockwave]

"For more than 100 years the Siemens plant at the foot of Sanford Avenue rang with the sounds of jobs and security.

On Friday, the only sounds in the giant factory were muffled tears, and the static of welding torches and power tools cutting apart its production machinery.

The factory, where generations of workers produced everything from the tools of destruction during the Second World War when it was still known as Westinghouse, to power turbines for modern industry, was closed Friday, ending the jobs of 475 people.

The turbines produced in Hamilton will now be made in Charlotte, North Carolina. Siemens was convinced to relocate there in exchange for $157 million in state and local incentives."


http://www.thespec.com/news/business/article/571033--tears-and-memories-as-siemens-closes

This is just the death knell for Hamilton as more and more plants close - and move to the States. While it's good that Americans are getting jobs back - sometimes I feel bitter as it's taking jobs away from Canadians.

[PassingFair]

1. I am sorry. I really am.

:hug:

From someone whose grandparents immigrated to the US from
Canada...

I hope you guys hang tough.

Things seem to "go south" during tough times.

[socialshockwave]

2. I'd agree.

It seems every time there is a crisis, the companies here jump ship and head to the USA.

Probably 'cause of all those Republicrat tax breaks. /rolleyes

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. Yes, of course, because Repukes destroyed unions here, and left us jobless, so now we'll accept

any pay. We're all hungry here. Like a proper third world nation, thanks to the fascists called Republicans.

[socialshockwave]

4. I'm not blaming the American people. I just think it's sad to lose more jobs in a city

that's already losing jobs by the thousands.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. Yes, but the fact is, we're all getting hungry here. Republicans have destroyed our unions....

they have stripped this country of jobs...

this country is headed towards 3rd world nation status.

[csziggy]

6. North Carolina is a "right to work" state so no union wages

Sure, maybe eventually workers could try to unionize, but most Southern States have been "right to work" for so long no one really understands the benefits they would get from a union. They've been told all their lives how evil and Marxist unions are so most workers are resistant.

It also means lower wages, fewer benefits, and these days, big tax incentives to move the factories to economically depressed areas.

I'm sorry to hear your area is losing jobs.

[socialshockwave]

7. Hamilton, St. Catharines, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls..

All of these areas used to have factories and varied work environments. Most of them were unionized and produced good, well paying jobs for the people in those areas. From car factories to making cans for pasta - you were guaranteed a living wage if you worked at one of those places.

Hamilton was the industrial centre of Ontario for the longest time. Toronto is considered our business capital - but many of us consider Hamilton the industrial capital of the province. Now - it's a shell of it's former self. Half the factories are abandoned or not functioning, and I actually see these grand buildings DECAYING with hardly anyone there to man them anymore.

I remember driving through Hamilton on the way to the hospital there to visit my mother. It was closed factory after closed factory, decaying roads, and just....waste.

[csziggy]

10. Yes, the rot from the US corporate policies has infected Canada

This really sucks.

[Angry Dragon]

8. And the workers get to pay their share of the $157 million

tax breaks that the company is getting

[csziggy]

9. Chances are that the taxpayers will have to pay assistance

To the workers that don't earn enough to make ends meet.