GM cutbacks hit Shreveport families

Workers at Shreveport’s GM plant wont go to work for eight weeks. Furloughs started Monday and last through mid-August. The autoworkers arent the only ones out of a job since the auto giant started sputtering. Suppliers and other businesses have been shutting down. Mark brewer says he was three years from retirement, and laid off: with bills to pay and a family. “I guess the truth came out Friday when they asked me to turn in my key,” Brewer said. After 27 years of hauling trucks and SUVs from Shreveport’s General Motors plant, Brewer is one of dozens of Jack Cooper Transport workers out of a job. Brewer says GM will hire a non union trucking company to cut costs. “I worked so hard to provide for my family. Now that has changed and it’s not a good feeling at all,” Brewer said. Monday started an eight week plant shutdown. “We usually have two shutdowns a year. Now were having three to four. Its becoming more frustrating for some,” Supplier Lamar Miles said. Miles says hell file for unemployment, making half his normal paycheck. At its height, Shreveport had 15 suppliers. Now the number is nearly half that at eight, according to the supplier union president. Miles started working for AI-Shreveport in 2003. He says the company had about 200 employees then, today about 67. And just last week, another supplier, Inteire laid off 28 workers. “You never know whats going to happen. Have a backup plan,” Brewer said. Miles says with the uncertainty of the auto industry, hes finishing his MBA. “Many doors have been opened and will be opened,” Miles said.