TOLEDO, Ohio — Paul Rippel, who has worked at Mobis North America for nearly 12 years, was mowing his grass last week when he learned the company announced it would lay off 210 employees as early as Jan. 5 of next year.
"I came in one day and I saw the text messages and there was a WARN notice and I just felt my heart drop," Rippel said.
Mobis' announcement came on the heels of Stellantis announcing it would indefinitely lay off 1,139 workers from the Toledo Assembly Complex as early as Jan. 5, too.
Rippel is a member of the United Auto Workers Local 12, which represents the more than 1,300 workers at both plants who have been notified of pending layoffs.
Local 12 president Bruce Baumhower said Jeep sales are down and noted that of the 11 plants he represents, only eight serve the Jeep brand.
"When Jeep's down, they're down," Baumhower said. "This is going to trickle through the community like crazy."
But if the Toledo-built Jeep products see sales increases, he says it could help save jobs.
"Our bigger goal is to get this turned around and get Jeeps selling again and Gladiators selling again and getting people back to work," Baumhower said.
Rippel said he's worried about supporting his family.
"They're devastated. They're scared. I've cried. I haven't slept in days. This is the only thing that's been on my mind," he said.
He expects to receive four weeks of sub-pay but said his situation is still dire.
"It took me and my wife a long time to save up money," Rippel said, "Now we're at this great point, and for me, I might have to start over again."
The layoff notice from Mobis is included below: