Two area factories in cut-back mode

I might as well get all of the bad news out of the way right off the bat. And as odd as this may seem, some of this news involves our local Bridgestone plant.

The news is by no means devastating, but it is indicative of the economic slowdown that’s gripping the nation. Bridgestone will halt production for four days at the end of this week and the beginning of next week. Because of Bridgestone’s shift schedule, the four-day stoppage will result in employees missing two days work and two days pay.

‘I hate that this might impact our employees negatively,’ said Bridgestone plant manager Ron Brooks. ‘This shows the economy is really taking a hit. We budgeted for everything to remain flat and it hasn’t. It’s gone down.’

Since tires aren’t being sold at the expected rate, the local plant is accumulating a surplus. That’s why this brief shutdown is being called an inventory reduction.

Brooks said he and the local employees take great pride in being the No. 3 Bridgestone plant in the world in terms of productivity. He says he hopes this brief shutdown doesn’t do anything to dampen employee morale. He said it’s too soon to know if another such shutdown will be necessary in the future.

‘We’ll be doing our next budget soon and that will give us a better indication,’ said Brooks.

As for other unfortunate news in the region, I’ve been told by Nissan employees that the company is cutting back hours at its plant in Smyrna. Depending on the department, most workers in Smyrna are either going to 38-hour weeks or 36-hour weeks instead of 40.

While such a cut might not seem like much, it will add up quick. The workers who are getting cut back to 36 hours will lose a week of pay after 10 weeks. For folks fighting skyrocketing gas prices and living paycheck to paycheck, getting reduced hours doesn’t make things any easier.

I’ve been told the workers at the Smyrna plant in Decherd are safe for now. Let’s hope they can keep their 40-hour weeks.