CTNA Mt. Vernon Factory Not Affected By Cuts, Says Manager

The plant manager at Continental Tire North America’s Mount Vernon facilities has voiced his reassurances following recent news that the parent company plans to reduce its North American workforce. In mid January US media reported the company’s North America CEO Samir Salman as saying Continental AG was moving towards reducing its workforce in this region by 10 per cent during 2009.

“It doesn’t affect the tyre production division and certainly doesn’t affect our facility here in Mt. Vernon,” said plant manager Hank Eisenga, who says he spoke with Salman last November. “Samir indicated a reduction relating to market conditions associated with the automobile parts side (of Conti’s business), but not rubber-related products. Market conditions are still tight, there’s no doubt about it. But this is not related to the rubber division or our facility here.”

According to the Michelin daily newspaper Detroit Free Press, the staff reductions are being made as a cost reduction measure to meet lower production volumes and as part of the company’s efforts to integrate the operations of automotive electronics maker Siemens VDO. Some 700 to 1,000 jobs are to be cut, Salman is reported to have said, and these cuts will include attrition and layoffs.