A Dozen Jobs Lost In Durand
September 17th, 2007 | by christine |A friend of mine works rail cars in Durand, and he just told me that his company has lost their contract on the yard. They’re clearing out on Sept 28. 13 guys will be out of jobs.
The problem was not the weak economy or even Michigan’s shaky tax environment. The problem was that his employer failed to pay Rail America their contracted percentage on the billing. So his company lost the contract.
I’ve listened to my friend talk about his job for a long time. They worked in terrible conditions .. substandard equipment (broken jacks to hold up the cars, inadequate wheel chocks that couldn’t stop or hold the cars when it rained, etc.), lousy weather, etc. And frankly, I thought they were underpaid.
Tough, tough job. And this is what they get, through no fault of their own.
Best wishes to the guys in the yard.