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Rep. Robb Wittman (R-1st) talks to workers at GM Powertrain plant in Spotsylvania.
Rep. Rob Wittman visits the GM Powertrain plant in Spotsylvania. He says America needs a 'backbone' of manufacturing to stay strong. |
By KELLY HANNON
Inside the General Motors Powertrain plant on Tidewater Trail, a sign hangs from the ceiling: "Support Your Job, Buy GM."
Yesterday, the 125 employees who work at the Spotsylvania County plant sought support from another source: First District Rep. Rob Wittman.
During a question-and-answer session with employees, Wittman, a Republican from Westmoreland County, was asked how he would keep manufacturing jobs and GM, in Virginia.
The plant's workforce has shrunk in recent years, as GM offered incentives for employees to retire. The plant used to be a 24-hour, three-shift operation. Today there is one shift.
Wittman said he's committed to sustaining the manufacturing sector of the U.S. workforce.
"While creating a service economy is fine, if we don't have a backbone of manufacturing in this nation we aren't going to be able to survive in the long term as being the top economy in the world," he said.
Wittman is running for re-election in November. His opponent is Democrat Bill Day, a Fauquier County businessman.
Wittman's visit came during a difficult week for GM.
Yesterday, company officials announced 1,600 workers at factories in Detroit, Pontiac, Mich., and Wilmington, Del., will be laid off indefinitely over the next few months as the company tries to control its inventory amid a worsening U.S. sales slump.
On Monday, GM announced it would close a metal stamping plant in Michigan by the end of 2009. That plant employs more than 1,300 hourly workers.
GM, Chrysler, and Ford will receive a $25 billion federal loan to develop alternative fuel technologies. Wittman voted for the low-interest loan, part of a continuing resolution, in September.
GM invited Wittman to tour the plant and to meet workers.
GM's Powertrain plant is part of the company's effort to boost fuel efficiency.
The plant produces thousands of torque converter clutches a day, in 4-speed and 6-speed. The 6-speed clutches have greater fuel economy than 4-speeds.
GM invested $3.1 million in the Spotsylvania plant so it could create single-plate and dual-plate 6-speed clutches.
Lois Doles, president of United Auto Workers Local 2123, said the 4-speed clutches will be phased out, and the plant is hoping to get more 6-speed clutch orders.
"We are aggressively pursuing new business," Doles said.
Wittman visited the plant's pressing and maintenance areas. Later, he sat behind the wheel of several new GM cars on the plant floor. Local GM dealers periodically loan cars to the plant so workers can see the finished product that comes from their labor.
Wittman was particularly taken with a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu sedan as a possible replacement for his wife's Toyota Corolla.
"I sat in the Malibu out there--we're going to be looking," at one, said Wittman, who drives a 2007 GMC Sierra pickup.
To keep manufacturing jobs in the congressional district, Wittman said he favors reducing taxes on small businesses.
Retail sales are declining nationally, and small businesses need encouragement to create jobs in that climate, Wittman said.
"We want to make sure that the dollars that you do earn, the government takes less of it so you can put more back into your business, so you can grow jobs," Wittman said. "That's the key."
Wittman's opponent, Bill Day, said Virginia could add manufacturing jobs by encouraging alternative energy companies to locate here. "If we provide a tax incentive to people like me to get into wind and solar, that will be a huge growth industry," Day said in a phone interview yesterday.
Day would eliminate tax cuts for large oil companies.
"Big oil's doing fine. They don't need all the tax breaks," he said.
Day wants to shift that money to balance the national budget, which he said would strengthen the economy and help people get auto loans again.
Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
Email: khannon@freelancestar.com
