Local officials ponder
Big 3's future

MORAINE, Ohio (WDTN) - As lawmakers debate a $25 billion bailout package for the nation's largest three automakers, it will be too little, too late for General Motor's Moraine Assembly Plant and its suppliers.

"Its been devastating for our people here in the Dayton area," said Jim Tinch, president of IUE-CWA Local 755, which represents about 280 workers still supplying Moraine Assembly.

The American Auto industry is the nation's largest buyer of copper, plastic, electronics, computer chips and steel.

"AK Steel in Middletown, GM is one of their largest customers and your talking several thousand workers that could be affected if it was to have a huge hit to them," said Don Baker, editor or the Dayton Business Journal.

Even in Dayton, a GM stronghold for so many years, those who sell Fords and Chyrslers are also worried.

"A lot of older people in their 50's or something like that, some of them feel like its too old for me to go back to school, there's no jobs out there. A lot of people are depressed," said Tinch.