FreightCar America Halting Production in Roanoke in June

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, Trainorders: Eastern Railroad Discussion > Freightcar-America slated shut down operations.

http://wsls.com/2017/03/29/freightcar-america-halting-production-in-roanoke-in-june/

A reply said:

Date: 03/30/17 15:19
Re: Freightcar-America slated shut down operations.
Author: Jimbo

A more complete story from The Roanoke Times.

http://www.roanoke.com/business/news/roanoke/freightcar-letter-describes-job-cuts-halt-to-production/article_f96cae54-c14b-53e4-9840-84ca354dc73a.html

FreightCar letter describes job cuts, 'halt' to production

By Jeff Sturgeon [e-mail] 981-3251 18 hrs ago

A late spring “halt” to production at FreightCar America in Roanoke may be temporary, the company told Roanoke leaders.

FreightCar said Wednesday that due to deteriorating business conditions, it intends to lay off 166 workers on April 24 and 198, the “balance” of its Roanoke workforce, on May 28. The company’s plans were conveyed in an email to Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea, who shared the news with local media. ... The layoffs will go on “until production operations come to a halt,” the letter said. The Roanoke Times obtained a copy of the letter on Thursday.

Company management “hopes and anticipates that this workforce reduction will be a temporary measure of limited duration,” according to the letter, which was signed by Paul Winsauer, a company human resources official. ... However, Winsauer said he could not predict when anyone would return to work.

FreightCar has been assembling railcars on Campbell Avenue for 12 years since leasing the former Norfolk Southern East End Shops in 2005. ... When domestic coal production sagged, so did demand for its coal-carrying railcars. The company predicted no significant pick up in railcar orders this year.
....

Jeff Sturgeon covers the transportation, banking and federal court beats. Contact Jeff at [phone] or [e-mail]. To send something by mail: 201 W. Campbell Ave., Roanoke, VA 24011.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Have been waiting for this to happen.

When you travel the back roads of America,you will see hundreds of empty coal hoppers stored on sidings waiting for that magical day when Coal becomes King again. People with a I.Q. above room temperature know that is not going to happen.

The next big layoff will be the Locomotive Plants in Indiana,Hundreds of Loco's stored in the Coal Fields of Wyoming and Montana.

[MyOwnPeace]

3. Shows Trump's criteria..........

for Cabinet candidates:
Truitt - EPA - warming denier - we're gonna' use clean coal!
Acosta - Sec. of Labor - the President has a plan for American workers

Can ANYBODY see how any of this is gonna' work out to help "Make Murica Great Again?"

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Lyndon Johnson talked about

the day when Coal Country would need a another Government Program to transition the effected workers into a different skill.

Those days are here,and I doubt if there is the will to take on the challenge.

Here is a little tid bit. US largest exports are Scrap Steel,waste cardboard and Paper,and Hay. Several Counties are not renewing Grain Purchase Contracts because of Trump's rhetoric against them.

[MyOwnPeace]

2. But WAIT!!!!!

Don't you know,

TRUMP DIGS COAL!!!!!!!!

The fools that bought that could have had the Brooklyn Bridge much cheaper (unless Crispy Cristie had other plans for it!)

*disclaimer: I'm NOT laughing at the coal workers - they were mislead and it is a shame that they must suffer their deception - but then again, we're paying the price for "their bad!"