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Burning Journal -> Engine Pit -> Locomotive plant layoff fears rise
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Locomotive plant layoff fears rise
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Locomotive plant layoff fears rise
LONDON, Ontario - With no orders on the horizon, fear is rising at London's train locomotive manufacturer that the balance of its workforce may soon face layoffs, the London Free Press reports.

Still reeling from more than 400 job cuts this spring, Electro-Motive Canada on Oxford Street east has about 300 workers still on the job -- but no orders for September, said Jim Reid, vice-president of Canadian Auto Workers Local 27, representing the workers.

"They have nothing on the order board for September and there is not any work to bid on right now," said Reid. "No one is buying the way the economy is. It is scary."

The plant was hit by three waves of layoffs, one a month in March, April and May which saw more than 400 in cuts, said John Black, recording secretary for Local 27, and a former Electro-Motive worker.

"It is frustrating, no one really knows what is happening except there is not much there right now. There is not a lot of locomotive building going on," said Black.

Neither officials with Electro-Motive owner Greenbriar Equity Group, nor the plant's union executive could be reached for comment.

"These are good-paying jobs, good wages. Even losing a few of those workers takes a lot of money out of the London economy," said Reid.

The London plant is caught in the midst of a continent-wide, roughly 20 percent drop in rail traffic due to the global economic downturn and it will not get better soon, said Anthony Hatch, a rail industry analyst in New York City.

"Unfortunately, these guys are right to be worried," said Hatch.

The Association of American Railroads reported recently that U.S. railroads originated 1,039,889 carloads of freight in June -- down 19.7 percent, or 255,668 fewer carloads, from June 2008.

U.S. intermodal rail traffic -- trailers and containers carried on flat cars -- were down 18.2 percent last month compared with the same period last year.

For the first six months of 2009, total U.S. freight was down 19.5 percent.

But the long-term future of the rail industry is very positive, Hatch was quick to add, as moving passengers and freight by rail is seen as a growing trend because it uses comparatively less energy than truck and vehicle traffic.

"Rail will pull an increasing share of passenger and freight due to its lower carbon footprint. When the economy returns, we expect fuel prices will increase, too," said Hatch. "Their product will do well in the long term, but right now, there are not too many locomotives being sold."

The association also reported that Canadian rail carload traffic in June was down 25.7 percent, while intermodal traffic here last month was down 19.2 percent from June 2008.

For the first six months of 2009, Canadian railcar loads were down 24.1 percent, or 469,236 carloads, to 1,479,016. Canadian intermodal traffic for the first half of 2009 was down 15.5 percent, or 184,600 units, to 1,005,715 trailers and containers.

(This item appeared July 13, 2009, in the London Free Press.)

 

July 13, 2009


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Calvin


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Troll wrote:

Still reeling from more than 400 job cuts this spring, Electro-Motive Canada on Oxford Street east has about 300 workers still on the job -- but no orders for September, said Jim Reid, vice-president of Canadian Auto Workers Local 27, representing the workers.

"These are good-paying jobs, good wages. Even losing a few of those workers takes a lot of money out of the London economy," said Reid.


Aint it a BABY BACK BITCH when what goes around, comes around?
Just ask all those guys who used to work for EMD in LaGrange IL, who lost thier jobs when they got moved to Canada.
EM quality started its slide to the shithole it resides in now, when they moved the first job to Canada. 

 



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Freddie Krueger


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Rail traffic isn't going to increase. If the other RR's do like they do here in Philly, running off customers, I see no recovery at all.

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Cy Valley


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Freddie Krueger wrote:

Rail traffic isn't going to increase. If the other RR's do like they do here in Philly, running off customers, I see no recovery at all.



The only "truly safe" crew is a furloughed crew.



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Snippy


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Put them to work filling in the SD70M2 "Air Notch Step of Death" (because the frame is too short) and the SD70 "Razor Doors".

(The razor doors are just "I dare ya" 's from management. "I dare ya" to put in a claim for a new shirt or claim an injury from that teeny tiny laceration. Did you have a job briefing before you cut yourself?

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Snippy wrote:

Put them to work filling in the SD70M2 "Air Notch Step of Death" (because the frame is too short) and the SD70 "Razor Doors".

(The razor doors are just "I dare ya" 's from management. "I dare ya" to put in a claim for a new shirt or claim an injury from that teeny tiny laceration. Did you have a job briefing before you cut yourself?



 Yes I did



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Uke


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Gotta admit right here and now, I had better hopes for EMD. They've been building a good product for so long, that I just assumed that when the entire outfit was split off from GM, that they'd continue doing just that!

Taking EMD private may have been a good move at the time. But it didn't take long for 'em ta go down! nThe last big contract delivery was ta China, for a series of freight/passenger locomotives in the 3000+ HP units.

And that ol' 710-G3 engine, AC traction, and advanced control, 'comfort' cabs, etc., should've helped. But then again...they're just another 'start-up' for Greenbrier.

If they ultimately fail... Oh well! General Electric will step up ta bring ya more EMD's...ta replace their failures!

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Uke


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This is a little departure, but reads easily. A copy of a 'press release' from EMD dated 2005, concerning the purchase of 300 6000-HP units...

And comments from other readers at the particular site.

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8858

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Uke


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Just about a year ago...

Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. (EMD) Introduces the New JT56ACe High Power Diesel-Electric Locomotive

Posted on: Monday, 18 August 2008, 18:00 CDT

LAGRANGE, Ill., Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The first EMD-designed JT56ACe high powered diesel-electric locomotive jointly manufactured by CNR Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. (DLoco) and USA-based Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc., (EMD) rolled out on July 2, 2008 in Dalian China. The JT56ACe locomotive utilizes a 6,000 HP engine and is one of the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly diesel-electric locomotives in its class anywhere in the world.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080818/AQM081) The JT56ACe has achieved a first for EMD in the following areas: 1st EMD locomotive contract in China 1st 6,000 HP diesel-electric locomotive in China

The new JT56ACe diesel-electric locomotive was built with the needs of the Chinese market in mind. It is equipped with a variety of EMD advanced technologies which include dual isolated driver's cabins, EMD's type 265H 6,000HP diesel engine, low exhaust emissions, electronic fuel injection, AC traction drive system, microcomputer control system, and the ability to function in three-unit consists. Crew comfort was also taken into account with a microwave oven, air conditioning, refrigerator and toilet facility. As the most advanced 6,000 HP freight locomotive in the world, the JT56ACe has a variety of advantages, such as achieving an impressive starting tractive effort of 620 kN and a continuous tractive effort of 578 kN. The JT56ACe also includes the EMD collision protection package, improving locomotive durability and driver safety. With a weight of just 25 tonnes per axle the JT56ACe is the most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in the world at such a low axle load. The JT56ACe can pull up to 5000 tonnes with a maximum speed of 120 km/h. Under EMD's current contract, DLoco and EMD will manufacture 300 JT56ACe locomotives for the Chinese Ministry of Railways (MoR).

Having been selected to develop and supply the JT56ACe locomotive to the MoR, EMD is excited to participate in the rapidly expanding Chinese market. Beginning with the licensing of advanced radial bogie technology to China in 2001, and now with the localization of the JT56ACe, EMD looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the MoR, Chinese suppliers and other Chinese customers. EMD is confident that by working with our Chinese partners we will be able to provide locomotive technology solutions to make a significant and lasting contribution to the railway transportation development in China.

Founded in 1922, Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. is one of two U.S. original equipment manufacturers of diesel-electric locomotives. Headquartered in LaGrange, Illinois, with additional facilities in London, Ontario, EMD designs, manufactures and sells diesel-electric locomotives for all commercial railroad applications and has sold its products in more than 70 countries worldwide. The Company is the only diesel-electric locomotive manufacturer to have produced more than 70,000 engines and has the largest installed base of diesel-electric locomotives in both North America and internationally. In addition to its locomotive manufacturing activities, EMD has an extensive aftermarket business offering customers replacement parts and a range of value-added services for its locomotives. The Company is also a global provider of diesel engines for marine propulsion, offshore and land-based oil well drilling rigs, and stationary power generation. In April 2005, Greenbriar Equity Group LLC, Berkshire Partners LLC, and certain related parties acquired EMD from General Motors Corporation. Additional information may be found at http://www.emdiesels.com/.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080818/AQM081AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN25PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.

CONTACT: Mike Ricci of Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc., +1-708-387-5792,michael.ricci@EMDiesels.com

Web site: http://www.emdiesels.com/



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