BUCYRUS – Congressman Tim Ryan will join workers from IUE-CWA Local 84704 at the GE-Savant lighting facility in Bucyrus, OH for a press conference at 1pm today. The workers are fighting to save the LED residential light bulb line and 80 jobs from being outsourced to China. The GE-Savant facility is one of the only residential lighting plants left in the USA, where workers currently make bulbs for Walmart.

Congressman Ryan is proud to stand with workers saying:

“Walmart has said it is committed to promoting American-made products. Savant has said it wants to do everything possible to keep the jobs here in Bucyrus. This plant has been a community anchor for nearly 80 years, and its workers are proud of the products they make that light up homes across the country. I’m calling on both Walmart and Savant to work together to ensure this product line stays right here in Bucyrus, OH. This is the time to bring work back to the U.S., not to abandon American cities and towns by shipping more jobs to China. We are urging Savant to cooperate with the joint study so we can leave no stone unturned to keep these jobs in the community.”

Union representatives have been meeting with management from GE-Savant since last Thursday, discussing the union’s proposal to bring in John P. Beck from Michigan State University, an outside expert with a long track record of staving off plant closures. Beck and his team seek ways to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability through a joint labor management review of all of the current work processes. Both the union and the City of Bucyrus are eager to bring in his expertise and have agreed to participate in a cost share for the study with the company.

Michigan State University’s School of Human Resources and Labor Relations has conducted dozens of successful studies with major U.S. corporations including General Motors, Kraft Foods, Nestle, Catholic Health Hospitals and Bridgestone Tires, and Coca-Cola. Savant has yet to accept the union’s proposal for the study.

“We must keep the LED jobs in Bucyrus since LED is the future of lighting.” said Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser in support of the union’s proposal. “I recently toured the plant and doubt the level of pride and strong tradition of quality can ever be matched. We are here to help and to make sure that those jobs stay in Bucyrus.”

“I only made $11.00 at my last job and simply couldn’t make ends meet. If I lose this job, I don’t know where I am going to go next.” said Antonio Wegener, one of the impacted workers whose job is on the chopping block if Savant moves forward with their plans to outsource his job. “There simply aren’t any more good union jobs around here or opportunities for people like me with a high school degree.”

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Bucyrus community members are rallying behind the workers and saying to GE/Savant: “Love us, Don’t leave us!”  Buttons, signs and an online petition have been distributed throughout the town to supporters urging the company to keep the plant and the jobs in the community.