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General Motors Plant Closes(42 images)
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  • By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • A General Motors truck drives by the Corner Cafe, Monroe, Wisconsin, June 17, 2008. General Motors will slash truck and SUV production by closing several plants including the Janesville, Wisconsin plant which employees 2390 workers. Richard Wagoner, company chairman announced plant closing on June 4, 2008 and sited rising gasoline prices forced a structural shift by American consumers away from truck-based vehicles built by GM. "These prices are changing consumer behavior and changing it rapidly. We don't believe it's a spike or temporary shift. We believe it is, by and large permanent." -Richard Wagoner*. .*Quotes published in The New York Times, "G.M. Closing 4 Truck Plants in Shift Toward Cars" by Bill Vlasic. Published June 4, 2008. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • The entrance of General Motor's Janesville, Janesville, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. Scheduled to close in 2010, 2390 jobs will be lost. General Motors has announced it would consider selling off it's Hummer brand (red SUV at right). By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • New trucks and SUVs ready for shipping from General Motors Janesville plant, Janesville, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. General Motors will slash truck and SUV production by closing several plants including the Janesville, Wisconsin plant which employees 2390 workers. Richard Wagoner, company chairman announced the plant closing on June 4, 2008 and sited rising gasoline prices which forced a structural shift by American consumers away from truck-based vehicles built by GM. "These prices are changing consumer behavior and changing it rapidly. We don't believe it's a spike or temporary shift. We believe it is, by and large permanent." -Richard Wagoner*. Built in 1919, the plant originally produced Samson tractors and produced artillery shells during World War II. In 1937 assembly workers went on a strike that lasted more than five weeks and helped lead to the creation of the United Auto Workers union. During the mid 90s SUV production began at the plant per high consumer demand. Now high gas prices have forced General Motors to close the Janesville plant, as well as, three other plants including Moraine, Ohio, Oshawa, Ontario and Toluca, Mexico by or before 2010. *Quotes published in The New York Times, "G.M. Closing 4 Truck Plants in Shift Toward Cars" by Bill Vlasic. Published June 4, 2008. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • General Motor's Janesville plant, Janesville, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. General Motors will slash truck and SUV production by closing several plants including the Janesville, Wisconsin plant which employees 2390 workers. Richard Wagoner, company chairman announced the plant closing on June 4, 2008 and sited rising gasoline prices which forced a structural shift by American consumers away from truck-based vehicles built by GM. "These prices are changing consumer behavior and changing it rapidly. We don't believe it's a spike or temporary shift. We believe it is, by and large permanent." -Richard Wagoner*. Built in 1919, the plant originally produced Samson tractors and produced artillery shells during World War II. In 1937 assembly workers went on a strike that lasted more than five weeks and helped lead to the creation of the United Auto Workers union. During the mid 90s SUV production began at the plant per high consumer demand. Now high gas prices have forced General Motors to close the Janesville plant, as well as, three other plants including Moraine, Ohio, Oshawa, Ontario and Toluca, Mexico by or before 2010. *Quotes published in The New York Times, "G.M. Closing 4 Truck Plants in Shift Toward Cars" by Bill Vlasic. Published June 4, 2008. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Goober Briggs and his daughter Clarissa, age 8, will both be affected by the Janesville General Motors plant shut down scheduled for 2010, Monticello, Wisconsin, June 22, 2008. After working on the line for 15 of his 22 years at GM, Goober falls short of the 30 year retirement mark and will most likely have to move to another plant in Ohio, Indiana or Texas to make retirement and retain benefits. Despite losing his job at the Janesville GM plant Goober still remains a loyal consumer . "I would still buy a Chevy. I have family that is collecting pensions. My Dad retired out of there, Father-in-law and Father-in-law's Dad. A lot of family worked there. If GM goes bankrupt everyone will be out but if the government let's that happen we have problems." -excerpt from interview with Goober and Clarissa Briggs. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Goober Briggs and his daughter Clarissa, age 8, will both be affected by the Janesville General Motors plant shut down scheduled for 2010, Monticello, Wisconsin, June 22, 2008. After working on the line for 15 of his 22 years at GM, Goober falls short of the 30 year retirement mark and will most likely have to move to another plant in Ohio, Indiana or Texas to make retirement and retain benefits. "Moving is the only part that scares me. If I have to come home every weekend to see Clarissa that is the way it will have to be.The worst thing is I'll be gone, come back and she will be 16." -excerpt from interview with Goober and Clarissa Briggs By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Goober Briggs and his daughter Clarissa, age 8, will both be affected by the Janesville General Motors plant shut down scheduled for 2010, Monticello, Wisconsin, June 22, 2008. After working on the line for 15 of his 22 years at GM, Goober falls short of the 30 year retirement mark and will most likely have to move to another plant in Ohio, Indiana or Texas to make retirement and retain benefits. "Moving is the only part that scares me. If I have to come home every weekend to see Clarissa that is the way it will have to be.The worst thing is I'll be gone, come back and she will be 16." -excerpt from interview with Goober and Clarissa Briggs By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Larry Allen, retired from the Janesville General Motors plant, Monroe, Wisconsin, June 30, 2008. Throughout the plant's 89 year history, the hourly wage was one of the highest in Southwestern Wisconsin. In 1977, Larry made $3.50 an hour before working at GM. "I feel really bad about the plant closing. I was just happy the day I walked into GM, making $6.77 an hour. I took my paycheck home to my wife and laughed and said look at all that money!" - excerpt from interview with Larry Allen By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Larry Allen, retired from the Janesville General Motors plant, Monroe, Wisconsin, June 30, 2008. Throughout the plant's 89 year history, the hourly wage was one of the highest in Southwestern Wisconsin. In 1977, Larry made $3.50 an hour before working at GM. "I feel really bad about the plant closing. I was just happy the day I walked into GM, making $6.77 an hour. I took my paycheck home to my wife and laughed and said look at all that money!" - excerpt from interview with Larry Allen By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • After 22 years, Richard Zeal, will lose his job at the Janesville General Motors plant when the plant closes in 2010. It's Union (UAW - United Auto Workers) brothers and sisters you still have to support by buying GM products." -excerpt from interview with Richard Zeal. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • After 22 years, Richard Zeal, will lose his job at the Janesville General Motors plant when the plant closes in 2010. "The middle class is going to be gone. We are going to be lower middle class if not fall into poverty. When you are the sole provider you worry about losing your house." -excerpt from interview with Richard Zeal. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • After 22 years, Richard Zeal, will lose his job at the Janesville General Motors plant when the plant closes in 2010. "We were guaranteed to build the next generation SUV if the market demand was there, if. -excerpt from interview with Richard Zeal. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • UAW (United Auto Workers) union hall, Janesvile, Wisconsin, June 25, 2008. With the help of State Governor, Jim Doyle, union leaders prepare for a new product proposal to present in Michigan in August. Although the 2390 jobs that will be lost when the Janesville General Motors plant closes the union hopes to revive the area with new jobs. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • UAW (United Auto Workers) union hall, Janesvile, Wisconsin, June 25, 2008. With the help of State Governor, Jim Doyle, union leaders prepare for a new product proposal to present in Michigan in August. Although the 2390 jobs that will be lost when the Janesville General Motors plant closes the union hopes to revive the area with new jobs. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Bob Vicar's Cadillac outside the UAW (United Auto Workers) union hall, Janesvile, Wisconsin, June 25, 2008. With the help of State Governor, Jim Doyle, union leaders prepare for a new product proposal to present in Michigan in August. Although the 2390 jobs that will be lost when the Janesville General Motors plant closes the union hopes to revive the area with new jobs. General Motors will slash truck and SUV production by closing several plants including the Janesville, Wisconsin plant which employees 2390 workers. Richard Wagoner, company chairman announced the plant closing on June 4, 2008 and sited rising gasoline prices which forced a structural shift by American consumers away from truck-based vehicles built by GM. Built in 1919, the plant originally produced Samson tractors and produced artillery shells during World War II. In 1937 assembly workers went on a strike that lasted more than five weeks and helped lead to the creation of the United Auto Workers union. During the mid 90s SUV production began at the plant per high consumer demand. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Jamie Disrud and his son Haden, age 5 with their family Tahoe which was built at the Janesville General Motors plant where Jamie worked, Beloit, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. After 10 years of working at GM, Jamie will lose his job this week when second shift is eliminated in preparation for total plant shut down in 2010. Jamie has a degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has considered going into teaching or electrical distribution. "Moving out of town isn't really an option because Halley (his daughter) has 3 years of school left and my wife has been at her job for 21 years. I don't want to pull her away from a good job so we can start over. But never say never if it comes to a tough situation and GM offers a job, it could happen." -excerpt from interview with Jamie Disrud By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Jamie Disrud and his son Haden, age 5 with their family Tahoe which was built at the Janesville General Motors plant where Jamie worked, Beloit, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. After 10 years of working at GM, Jamie will lose his job this week when second shift is eliminated in preparation for total plant shut down in 2010. "When we came out with this model Tahoe it was suppose to be the hot selling vehicle and it was suppose to get better gas mileage than the previous model. Now, it's over $80.00 to fill the tank." -excerpt from interview with Jamie Disrud By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Jamie Disrud and his son Haden, age 5 with their family Tahoe which was built at the Janesville General Motors plant where Jamie worked, Beloit, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. After 10 years of working at GM, Jamie will lose his job this week when second shift is eliminated in preparation for total plant shut down in 2010. Haden suggests his father can be a doctor or work for McDonald's which he claims to own. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Jamie Disrud and his son Haden, age 5 with their family Tahoe which was built at the Janesville General Motors plant where Jamie worked, Beloit, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. After 10 years of working at GM, Jamie will lose his job this week when second shift is eliminated in preparation for total plant shut down in 2010. "When we came out with this model Tahoe it was suppose to be the hot selling vehicle and it was suppose to get better gas mileage than the previous model. Now, it's over $80.00 to fill the tank." -excerpt from interview with Jamie Disrud By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Jamie Disrud, son Haden, age 5 and his wife, Dawn in there dining room during Jamie's last week at work at the Janesville General Motors plant, Beloit, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. After 10 years of working at GM, Jamie will lose his job when second shift is eliminated in preparation for total plant shut down in 2010. One of Dawn's biggest fears is what will happen to their community once the largest employer, GM, leaves. "We haven't had to budget like this since I've worked at GM. GM has been good to us and paid us a very good wage. We've always had money to do extra things. Now we are cutting back. Even groceries are getting ridiculous." - excerpt from interview with Jamie and Dawn Disrud By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Jamie Disrud, son Haden, age 5 and his wife, Dawn in there dining room during Jamie's last week at work at the Janesville General Motors plant, Beloit, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. After 10 years of working at GM, Jamie will lose his job this week when second shift is eliminated in preparation for total plant shut down in 2010. Haden suggests his father can be a doctor or work for McDonald's which he claims to own. "When we came out with this model Tahoe it was suppose to be the hot selling vehicle and it was suppose to get better gas mileage than the previous model. Now, it's over $80.00 to fill the tank." -excerpt from interview with Jamie Disrud By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Jamie Disrud brings a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to work as always during his last week at work at the Janesville General Motors plant, Beloit, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. After 10 years of working at GM, Jamie will lose his job when second shift is eliminated in preparation for total plant shut down in 2010. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • Jamie Disrud goes to work for the last week at the Janesville General Motors plant, Janesville, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. After 10 years of working at GM, Jamie will lose his job when second shift is eliminated in preparation for total plant shut down in 2010. "My biggest fear is having to look for another job because I thought I would never have to. There are a lot of people out of work right now and no jobs created for those people to go into right now." -excerpt from interview with Jamie Disrud By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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  • A second shift employee enters the Janesville General Motors plant during the last week before second shift is eliminated in preparation for the complete plant shut down in 2010, Janesville, Wisconsin, June 23, 2008. The 2390 employees built SUVs including the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Yukon XL models. Sales were down 42-59% per model from last year according to General Motors. By photographer Shana Wittenwyler
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