Workers sorry Vise-Grip plant moving to China (300 workers to watch their jobs go overseas)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. - Gary Oden has known for weeks that the plant where he has spent the last 19 years helping build Vise-Grips, one of Nebraska's most famous products, would be shutting down.

But he still wasn't completely prepared for the meeting at 5:30 Wednesday morning.

He and other employees were officially told the bad news, the kind that has stung workers in upper Midwestern states for years but is relatively uncommon in Nebraska: The DeWitt plant is shutting down so operations can be moved to China.


Nati Harnik / AP
“It’s a kick in the head,” said Gary Oden about the closure of the Vise-Grip plant, where he has worked for 19 years.

"It's a kick in the head," Oden said from a DeWitt bar where employees gathered to discuss the announcement and "try to forget about it."


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26531610/

[Phred42]

1. No longer any reason to buy Vise-Grip

bye-bye

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

2. Never buy a vise grip...

I will never buy a vise-grip product again.

I will tell the company that, aND i WILL FOLLOW UP.

I will disassociate from Vise-grip and any companies it is in partnership with.

I suggest that you consider the same.

If companies cannot sell the chinese-made products, then maybe they will learn.

I do have a solution is anyone is interested.....I will try to post in the next feww days.

BTW, here is a link to the "Irwin Tools" website contact page:

Tell them you do not approve and won't purchase Chinese-made vise grips

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. vise grip was designed by a blacksmith who

got tired of late, expensive employees when he needed three hands. (and any blacksmith will tell you you often 3) I have probably 25 of them, including one i welded new heads on to grip round bar steel firmly for hammering, and they are worth their weight in gold.

this is really sad news for me.

[speedingbullet]

40. Sad

I remember Visegrips being used as door handles for old Pick-up trucks.

[JonQ]

69. So every vice-grip bought

puts one blacksmith assistant out of work? Heh.

This is too bad, they made decent tools, now I'm sure the quality will plummet.

[snooper2]

31. Just replied...will never buy another product from them..

Fuck companies who do this...They have a great American made product and then do this...

Fuckem!

[dysfunctional press]

41. what are the alternatives to vise-grip brand vise-grips?

:shrug:

there's a crappy line of imitation ones under the"buffalo" brand- but those are total pieces of crap ALREADY made in china.

[Yavin4]

3. Bush Won Neb. Twice and John McCain Is Ahead

I'm sorry, but I'm losing my patience with red states.

[brentspeak]

11. I have news for you:

Manufacturing plants from every state in the union have been moving overseas. It's not just "red states".

[workinclasszero]

30. ***Bush Won Neb. Twice and John McCain Is Ahead***

Wonder how many of these formerly middle class workers are faithful republican voters?

You reap what you sow....

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bobbolink]

66. You are right.... THIS IS BOTH PARTIES COMPLICIT.

However, you needn't be so rude about it.

It's possible to state your opinion, which is correct, without calling someone else vile names.

Try it.

[vinylsolution]

4. Are there any....

... American-made tools for us to buy these days?

[progressivebydesign]

10. I bought an American-made push mower from American Lawnmower..

out of Indiana. If anyone is looking for a green option for cutting the lawn, look them up!!

[madrchsod]

17. estwing! hammers made in rockford il

http://www.estwing.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estwing

you`ll never have to buy another hammer for the rest of your life..


solid forged AMERICAN steel hammers made by AMERICAN workers

[ngant17]

24. china is making Estwing clones

Harbor Freight sells them, they also are forged steel and look almost the same.

[dysfunctional press]

39. i've had the same estwing framing hammer for 30 years.

they're the best, for sure.

[Pavulon]

18. yes.

get what you pay for ..
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html

[Phx_Dem]

36. A few

Proto, S-K, Snap-On, Craftsman, Klein, K-D, Channellock, Mac.

Chinese hand tools suck, sorry Vise Grip, you just lost me as a customer.

[AndyTiedye]

64. I Just Bought a Snap-On Adjustable Wrench. It Was Made in SWEDEN

It's got rather a bit more play in it than I would expect for such a pricy tool, too.
:wtf:

[Angleae]

58. Several

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html#handtools

[Crabby Appleton]

5. I'll never buy visegrips

US made tools only for me.

[AndyTiedye]

22. Can You Recommend Some U.S.-Made Locking Pliers?

[Phx_Dem]

37. Proto. nt

[dysfunctional press]

43. where are stanley proto tools made? the website doesn't say...

you'd think that if they're american made- they'd have it plastered all over the site.

[Phx_Dem]

44. I have a proto locking plier in my truck

stamped USA.

Craftsman also makes locking pliers.

[dysfunctional press]

42. a link to proto tools vise-grip line- although it doesn't say where they make them.

:shrug:

http://www.stanleyproto.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=LOCKING+PLIERS+%26+SETS&strSiteName=PROTO&strDefaultCatalog=PROTO

[Phx_Dem]

45. probably because stanley stuff

is NOT made in the USA, so they want to downplay it on the website.

[AndyTiedye]

59. I Just Picked up a Leatherman Crunch

Locking pliers in a multitool. How cool is that?

[Maine-ah]

68. these are wood-working tools made in Maine

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/

[OhioChick]

6. K&R

More jobs down that swirling toilet bowl.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Nebraska, huh?

You think some people just might be asking why this is happening?.

Sigh, probably not.

[Javaman]

28. didn't Neb vote red in the last two elections? just saying. nt

[mrih]

52. Nebraska hasn't voted Blue since

the days of Johnson.

[trthnd4jstc]

8. What a stupid Shame.

I would buy Vise-grips because they were American Made. I once bought non-Vice-grips and they practically fell apart on me about 20 years ago. Further, much from the PRC is poor quality, sharp edges. Is not American Made Important?

[WriteDown]

9. To you yes....

but to most of the American people it is not. Kind of like getting people to buy GM or Ford.

[raccoon]

27. Lots of auto workers buy foreign cars too.

And many "foreign" cars, such as the Toyota Camry, are made in the US.

[WriteDown]

29. Not many that I know

and there is a big difference between a union plant and a plant somewhere like Alabama or Mississippi.

[onethatcares]

12. 19 fucking years and they're going to the bar to try to forget about it?

they should have been aware a long time ago when they supported the lower taxes, kill the labor unions, bullshitters. What will they do now? Nebraska isn't really a hot bed of highschool graduate hiring. Watch the foreclosures start, then the suicides, then the empty towns with a large drinking problem. Yeah, they thought it would only happen in other states, like the northeast.

"its a kick in the head." You're gauddamned right it's a kick in the head.

[brentspeak]

13. You're assuming these workers voted Republican

There were over 254,000 Nebraska residents who voted for Kerry in 2004. Meanwhile, there were 1,670,000 New Jersey residents who voted for Bush in 2004.

Can't judge people's political leanings by the state they live in.

[onethatcares]

19. how many Nebraskans voted for *?

this isn't about New Jersey. Every person I've met from the great state of Nebraska has been a * supporter. Don't know why but they seem to have this idea bout pulling yourself up by the boot straps and people can always get jobs if they need them, unions drove industry out of the U.S. and blah blah blah.

Give me your take on it.

[madrchsod]

15. vise grips! jesus h christ

i used to make hammer heads and open and box end wrenches till the god dam taiwanese and indians destroyed our jobs

chinese tool are god dam dangerous. the tools i used where i worked were chinese and they`d break so i brought in my own AMERICAN made tools.

i guess my 15 AMERICAN made vice grips are going to be worth a lot more now.

[Pavulon]

16. I go out of my way to avoid chinese

hand tools. They are shit.

stanley proto is a good manufacturer as is wright. most craftsman hand tools are made here. Power tools (shit) are made in china.

[AndyTiedye]

21. Snap-On Tools Are Still Made Here Too

My Snap-On and SK tools will probably outlive me.

The Chinese crap tools, not so much.

I suppose the latter is a more profitable business model, but it still sucks.

[WriteDown]

26. I've seen SK tools last for over 50 years....

and work like they are new. The ratchets are an amazing work of art.

[AndyTiedye]

65. Some Snap-On Tools Are NOT Made Here

I just bought a Snap-On adjustable wrench from their web-site, and it was made in Sweden.

[msedano]

20. Right now: buy all the vise grips on the shelves

because once they're made in PRC the quality will be pure junk. I know one company that had stuff made in China. The prototypes were superb, and the price unbelievable unbeatable. But when the production run materials arrived the quality was a surprise--it sucked. The company marketed the crap and replaced defectives from stock, two or three times until the customer happened upon a good one. The company complained to the Chinese manufacturer, who issued credit memos and retooled the items. The new production run featured defects again, but fewer.

Bottom line: the Chinese produce shit, but take adequate customer service steps when called on the carpet.

There's an old Chinese saying that describes my shopping habits now: caveat emptor.

mvs

recommended.

[orleans]

23. hey nebraska? why do you keep voting for republikas?

maybe the guys who work(ed) at this plant aren't a bunch of people who vote against their own best interest in the name of not wanting same-sex marriage (because we know how much it would effect all of THEM), but SOMEONE in nebraska has been voting for these republika pigs!--their friends, their relatives, their neighbors, their fellow church goers.

why don't they do themselves and their fellow nebraskans a big fucking favor this time around? (or do they like to see others go through hard times because it gives them a sense of purpose so they can put on their "christian" hats and donate a bag of groceries to a food pantry?)

[alfredo]

25. I made a lot of money from people that screwed up their bicycles by

using Vice-Grip on them.


We used to call them "Italian speed wrench." We used them as a last resort. Used properly they saved many bikes.

[GregW]

33. Don't forget Vaughan hammers

Still proudly made in the USA - my "California Framer" is by far my favorite tool.

[Zorra]

34. Boycott Chinese products and buy American whenever possible.

We really need to start punishing companies that leave the country, and support those that stay.

[WriteDown]

38. This is the best method....

but see how many are actually willing to put their money where their mouth is. I refuse to buy a foreign made tool (with the exception of japanese chisels) since I consider them dangerous and inferior to their American counterparts.

[AndyTiedye]

46. But What is "American"?

My Black and Decker drill turns out to come from China.
According to this thread, the same goes for Stanley power tools.
My Makita drill is at least assembled in the USA, which is more than those "American" companies can say for their drills.
It cost much more than the others, and is of far higher quality.

I have quite a few Snap-on and SK tools, most purchased many years ago.
Those, also, are of much higher quality than similar tools by other manufacturers.
Those companies are still making their tools here.

It does make it more diffficult to "buy American" when "American" companies don't.
How many will continue to buy Vice-Grips thinking they are still made in the USA?
I am sure the Vice-Grip Corporation is not going out of their way to advertise this transition.

[WriteDown]

53. I'm one of those guys...

That is constantly checking labels and if I can't find American made in the store, I go to the internet. I recently had a heck of a time trying to find American made nail sets in the stores. Finally found a set of 3 in Lowes.

[Kablooie]

51. Punish the god damn government that does nothing to help companies stay here.

[AndyTiedye]

57. Worse Than That, They Give Them Tax Incentives to Ship American Jobs Overseas!

Kerry was going to change that, but the MSM barely reported that fact at all in their rush to Swift Boat him.

[Romulox]

35. Jobs sent overseas from a place like Detroit is different from jobs leaving from a place like DeWitt

"It's a kick in the head," Oden said from a DeWitt bar where employees gathered to discuss the announcement and "try to forget about it."

"Jobs sent overseas from a place like Detroit is different from jobs leaving from a place like DeWitt, Nebraska," he said, referring to DeWitt's small size.

http://www.fremonttribune.com/articles/2008/09/04/ap-state-ne/d92vf8so3.txt\

This time it's different--It's my job that's being sent overseas! Hope Mr. Oden's Toyota Tundra is paid off.

[AndyTiedye]

47. He Wouldn't Be Able to Afford Gas For it Anyway

[BlueCollar]

63. was the Tundra built in Texas?...n/t

[kurth_]

48. Better buy the USA-made ones while they last

Chinese-made tools are garbage.

[kurth_]

49. Kleins will be next

Fluke meters have already been moved to China.

[conscious evolution]

55. Thanks for the heads up.

I have been saving for a new Fluke meter.Guess I'll have to start looking for an American made meter now.
Know of any?

I sure hope Klien does not move overseas.There electrical hand tools are the best-bar none.No one elses tools come close to the quality of Klien.I have line cutters and screwdrivers that are over twenty years old and are still in good shape.No other tool manufacturer,even other American companies,can match Kliens quality.
It will be a sad day indeed if they leave.

[Kablooie]

50. It's not necessarily the company's fault. The government could do something to help if the wanted to

But the Repubs think that anything that creates more wealth for the wealthy is good and letting work go overseas to be done more cheaply is part of the plan.

Other governments have policies that help workers keep working. Not here.

Obama wants a tax policy that rewards companies that stay in America.

[WriteDown]

54. Not really true...

What would you have us do? We could enact tariffs, but that is a whole other can of worms especially with our trade deficit. What really needs to happen is people need to start demanding American made products and willing to pay a few bucks extra for those products. Until this happens, nothing we do will help.

[daggahead]

56. Well, that starts by never, ever, shopping at Walmart. n/t

[JonQ]

70. Make it illegal to outsource

and ban any products not made in the US, both punishable by death.

That will solve all our problems and certainly won't have any inevitable, devastating side effects.

[lib2DaBone]

60. CONgress..Please stop this insanity!

[sarcasmo]

61. Eventually no one in America will have a job and then no one will be able to afford

The crap that is built in China.

[greblc]

62. What should I buy instead?

If I need an American Made Locking Pliers

[Vinca]

67. This is why our economy is in the toilet. The greed of corporations

has cut the buying power of Americans and now we can't purchase their cheap garbage from China. Vise-Grips are great tools, but I won't buy them again unless they return to our shores.

[tabasco]

71. The majority of Nebraskan voters voted for Bush's "ownership society."

Tough shit to the republikkan voters. I have lost all patience with the stupid among us who are destrooying our country.

Sympathy to the Democrats.

The republican voters of Nebraska watched Bush call a room full of billionaires his base and still voted for him.

Stupid motherfuckers.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

72. I'm sorry to hear this.

The original Vise-Grips are far superior to the Chinese imitations.