End of an Era

[ZR-1Mike]

The news about the closing of the Stillwater Mercury Marine plant.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090905_48_A1_STILLW251370&archive=yes

[gbrtng]

In some ways this makes sense - the Fond du Lac plant is home base for Mercury Marine and it's been there at least 55 years (as long as I can remember seeing it on Hwy 41).
But the flip-flop WRT union/non-union wages makes me wonder if there might be some under-the-table government shenanigans going on. After all, WI and IL are solid blue union states, and with the Chicago political machine at full steam, one might jump to conclusions that the OK folks just aren't in favor anymore.

[Z Factor]

Sorry to hear the news.

[Jeffvette]

What the article does not tell you is that was the second vote the had. The first vote was a denial. Nobody understood what was going on and that MM was serious. Last Monday it stood that everything was moving to Oklahoma. They then had the revote, and now everything is moving to Wisconsin.


What would the morale have been for Thunder in Stillwater?

[rhipsher]

What the article does not tell you is that was the second vote the had. The first vote was a denial. Nobody understood what was going on and that MM was serious. Last Monday it stood that everything was moving to Oklahoma. They then had the revote, and now everything is moving to Wisconsin.


What would the morale have been for Thunder in Stillwater? Not very good. There are no smile faces sad enough to put at the end of this sentance.
The only thing that would have been a little uplifting was getting Ted Nugent to come to the Texas get together/BBQ. His personal assistant asked me for the exact dates but I havent heard anything back from her since. He's probably just to big of a name and to booked up for as small of a group as we are. But I did try my best Glenn to make it happen.

[RICHARD TILL]

This is sad news to say the least. :( It would be interesting to know how 18 or more years ago an agreement was made to install non union manufactured engines by UAW members.

[Ccmano]

Frankly it's more a comment on the state of the economy. Whether they move to WI or OK, the fact remains there is not enough business to keep both plants working. As I understand it the recreational boat business is in shambles, with well known builders going out of business left and right. Now, moving into the winter time, I suspect orders are coming to a standstill. In the past other recreational businesses would have filled the void, like snowmobiles. The prognosis on that is equally grim. Non-necessity businesses will continue to struggle as long as we stay in this depression.
I'll refrain from political commentary.
H
:cheers:

[GOLDCYLON]

What would the morale have been for Thunder in Stillwater?


It would have went over like a turd in a punchbowl. Sad news

[Aurora40]

What the article does not tell you is that was the second vote the had. The first vote was a denial. Nobody understood what was going on and that MM was serious. Last Monday it stood that everything was moving to Oklahoma. They then had the revote, and now everything is moving to Wisconsin.
I wonder what the legal requirements are for MM in terms of shutting down a union plant? It sounds like they'd be much better off shedding that plant. The next time MM is in financial trouble, and there is no second plant, what do you think the odds are that the union workers will accept "wage concessions"?