Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI) has just announced that it will eliminate a portion of its temporary work force by the end of the year. Not a huge number of employees are effected, but it's definitely important news for the 370 workers who will no longer be needed, some of which we're told had been working for Toyota in Indiana for years. TMMI says the workers had been used to help start up the San Antonio plant, and were also used for pilot production programs on the Sequoia SUV and Tundra pickup. Once full-scale production starts up, the pilot workers are no longer needed. Declining demand for the Sequoia also contributed to the decision, according to Kelly Dillon, a TMMI spokesperson. TMMI has used a company called Personnel Management to acquire these temporary workers, and is working with the agency to help find other jobs for them. The employees got their pink slips this week. None of TMMI's regular work force of 4,700 is effected by the layoffs. Personnel Management will still have a contract with TMMI to supply 1,000 to 1,200 workers at the facility.
Thanks for the tip, Will!
[Source: Evansville Courier & Press]
2010 Chevrolet Camaro revealed!
Spy Shots: Honda's hybrid Prius-fighter caught
Best shot yet of the Transformers 2 mystery Vette
Spy Shots: Subaru WRX STI spec C
In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG
First Drive: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 w/VIDEO![In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Ford Flex Limited [w/VIDEO]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/ford-flex45015_thumbnail.jpg)
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Ford Flex Limited [w/VIDEO]
First Drive: 2009 Mazda6
Should've bought a Garmin? Testing the iPhone 3G's GPS capabilities
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mike @ Apr 25th 2007 4:22PM
No way, I don't believe it. Onle the domestics lay off people. Toyota probably gave college scholarships to the family of the employees they were forced to 'goodbye hug'.
synergeist @ Apr 25th 2007 4:25PM
Not so much love for the Sequoia... could it be that American auto buyers are recognizing that a Toy just won't do when a real SUV is needed?
Jason @ Apr 25th 2007 4:26PM
Releasing temp workers isn't layoffs, smart guy.
Tyk @ Apr 25th 2007 4:30PM
If the UAW were involved, those 370 workers would be put in a 'jobs bank' collecting full benefits and 100k a year.
ViktorVaughan @ Apr 25th 2007 4:49PM
We don't need a crappy story every time X company lays off or releases Y number of workers.
matt @ Apr 25th 2007 5:03PM
Toyota needs a job bank.
The FedEx Man @ Apr 25th 2007 5:09PM
Whats the story?
beanspants @ Apr 25th 2007 5:34PM
4. Releasing temp workers isn't layoffs, smart guy.
-------------
that's good to hear mr accountant.
then they won't have to temp eat or temp feed their temp kids, they just disappear into the air like fairy dust, only to be reconstitiuted with a bit of water when needed.
KJC @ Apr 25th 2007 5:57PM
Another cheap shot at Toyota?
There is a Honda in Indiana plant that will be hiring soon.
SLVR6 @ Apr 25th 2007 7:35PM
Wow, just shows that it can be lonely at the top. You do everything right, get to number one and still get insulted. Just face it, the domestics have a long way to go to catch up. It's called competition!
Brian W @ Apr 25th 2007 7:51PM
What's new? They hire 25% temps and dangle the carrot in front of them. Tell them if they don't do what they say or get hurt that they will never get hired. Welcome to the Toyota reality.
Kumar @ Apr 25th 2007 7:54PM
Also remember Toyota is ramping up production of the Camry up in Lafayette at the Subie plant. No doubt these 'layoffs' are a product of the soft truck market.
Brian Rosa @ Apr 25th 2007 7:58PM
This is the real world, most companys hire "flex" workers and adjust numbers as needed. Anyone in the IT world knows it well.
Andy @ Apr 25th 2007 8:32PM
It's 'affected,' not 'effected'.
Mark @ Apr 25th 2007 11:20PM
You can kiss the domestic automobile industry goodbye when China gets their automobile production ramped up.
Let's vote more extreme conservatives into office.
Barney @ Apr 25th 2007 11:40PM
beanspants, did you read the artical or just the headline. These "temps" were through a hiring agency and the same agency responsible to secure them further work. These temporary workers could very well be temporary by choice. I worked for different companies on the same basis. I was hired untill the need was no longer and understood that. You apparantly don't understand.
Jesda @ Apr 26th 2007 2:46AM
#8 did at least make me laugh.
Guenther @ Apr 26th 2007 9:04AM
Remember that they're just finishing a changeover. That could have something to do with it. When is the new Sequoia due anyway? Or has it been shelved?
Beanspants- Its good to know there are still people out there who are sympathetic to the plight of the working man.
UPDOG @ Apr 26th 2007 12:15PM
Autoblog loves to take shots at Toyota. 350 temp workers laid off!!! Big deal! You call that a headline?? Give me a break.
The American Worker @ Apr 26th 2007 2:00PM
When half of your work force are temps, yes it means a hell of a lot. Toyota hires temps by the boo-coodles to save on benifits, when they are of no use to them they kick their asses out the door. But that is what the American public are clamoring for, more job instability and ignorance.