KOKOMO, IN—
A year after filing for bankruptcy, Chrysler is ramping up production and recalling some of its workers including hundreds of them Indiana. That's great news for the city of Kokomo. Unemployment in Kokomo was 14.4% in January, but now 300 Chrysler workers are going back to work.Chrysler is recalling its workers for two big reasons. In addition to a recent boost in sales, the company is also making a transition into manufacturing more six speed transmissions, which has driven a need at the Kokomo transmission plant. No matter how you slice it, workers say they're simply happy to have their jobs back.
"We've been through the storm together," said Gary Tipler, a Chrysler employee.
Tipler and Josette Sanchez refer to themselves as "lay-off friends". After years of working at the Chrysler Transmission Plant in Kokomo, they were both laid off last year. They've spent the following weeks and months collecting unemployment.
"Your check was in the mail some weeks and some weeks it wasn't," Sanchez said.
"I would say scary," Tipler said. "It's been scary in just wanting to know what's going to happen with my future and my job, if I was going to be here or in another state."
Though Gary was waiting to hear about some limited opportunities out of state, Josette is a single mother of three and says moving wasn't an option.
"I just hated for all that foundation to be ripped from under my feet," Sanchez said.
After a year of waiting, Tipler and Sanchez were among 175 workers reinstated at the plant Monday. Another 125 are expected to return March 22nd. Tipler says he had one thought when stepped back inside this week.
"Dejavu," Tipler said. "The smell is still there, but it smells like money."
Though their smiles are back, Tipler and Sanchez both know the future of their jobs all depend on how well the cars they make are selling.
"I mean they don't know how long we're going to be there," Tipler said. "They don't know anything, but we're back so that's definitely appreciated. I didn't think we was going to get back."
"I'm very appreciative of my job and we all are," Sanchez said. "Maybe it was a learning lesson, a humbling moment, but we're back in it to win it."
Though there are no guarantees, Chrysler is optimistic that the sales increase will continue. One big reason: they are rolling out a new Jeep Grand Cherokee in May.
Additional Information
Chrysler is recalling 300 workers in Kokomo. 175 went back to work this past Monday 125 will start on or around March 22nd
The city of Kokomo had a 14.4% unemployment rate in January. One of the highest in the state.
Most of the employees were laid off for a year. They opted to stay with the UAW basically on standby. There were some limited opportunities out of the state, but the two people I spoke to said they had basically been waiting to hear where they would go.
Chrysler is ramping up production at the Transmission plant in Kokomo because they are switching most of their efforts from a four speed to a six speed transmission for cars like the Sebring and mini vans.
These jobs are not guaranteed to stay. They are basically in response to the current market.
