TOLEDO, Ohio — In response to Stellantis announcing on Wednesday that around 1,100 workers will be laid off from the Toledo Assembly Complex, United Auto Workers Local 12 President Bruce Baumhower said the union is working to mitigate the impact.
"We're concerned about losing 1,139 members and that's a big chunk of our members of our plant over there," he said. "And I've got other plants around the local. Not only that, but it will shut down our suppliers."
The local union president said the layoffs, which Stellantis says could happen as soon as Jan. 5, include 500 people from the Gladiator lines on the south side and 639 people on the Wrangler lines in the north plant.
"We're working real hard to figure out how we can mitigate that somehow," said Baumhower.
This includes working with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services to help the workers who will be affected.
"One of the things we were able to do is get the state unemployment office to come here," said Baumhower. "Our members who have already been laid off are having a lot of problems with unemployment."
Stellantis issued a WARN notice regarding the layoffs to multiple government agencies, including ODJFS.
In part of an email sent to WTOL 11 by the ODJFS, the department said it has connected its rapid response team, which specializes in helping displaced workers understand and apply for unemployment benefits. The department is also helping those facing unemployment look for jobs and develop skills.
Baumhower said the layoffs are directly caused by low sales due to factors such as the Gladiator not being a hybrid vehicle.
"It was supposed to be switched over to a hybrid where it has gas," he said.
Baumhower said Gladiator sales have declined by 70,000 over the past four years. He also said Wrangler sales have declined by nearly 100,000 from 2021 up until the third quarter of 2024.
Outside of working with ODJFS, UAW Local 12 is looking for other ways to help affected workers.
"Local 12 has contracts with 41 other companies in northwest Ohio," Baumhower said. "A lot of times, I'm able to get our people employed at some other plant in the local, until the Jeep thing picks back up."
Baumhower hopes to bring in more job opportunities as plans are underway to build a small plant to fit in with the Gladiator plant in the south.
Area car dealerships declined to be interviewed, but a spokesperson for one did say the layoffs will likely have a ripple effect on its sales.