June 01, 2022

Bush, Cleaver Demand Answers from GKN Aerospace Executives Surrounding Plant Closure

ST. LOUIS, MO,—  Today, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) sent a letter to David Paja and Shawn Black, GKN Aerospace executives, regarding the  planned 2023 closure of the GKN Aerospace Plant in Hazelwood, MO. 

“For the past two decades, GKN has provided a thousand jobs for people and families across the St. Louis region,” the Members wrote. “The recent announcement that the facility would close next year came as a surprise for our local community, particularly given the risk of losing hundreds of good-paying jobs in the process. Given the impact this would have on families and our economy, our top priority is to see what can be done to keep these jobs in St. Louis.”

“The Machinists Union appreciates Reps. Bush and Cleaver for standing up for our members at GKN Aerospace,” said Robert Martinez Jr., IAM International President.“The IAM will provide every necessary resource to make sure all workers at this GKN facility in Hazelwood receive detailed information from the company. Our members have worked for years to make this company a major supplier in the aerospace industry. We will continue to have discussions with national, state, and local elected officials on the importance of keeping this facility open and maintaining this highly skilled workforce.”

"GKN Aerospace is the company that it is today because of the generations of highly-skilled workers that have dedicated their lives to producing world-class aerospace products,” said Jake Hummel, President, Missouri AFL-CIO. “Laying off nearly one thousand workers, with little warning, and no explanation of why the layoffs are occurring, is unacceptable. GKN Aerospace owes these Missouri workers, and their families, an explanation of why their careers are disappearing. The AFL-CIO is grateful for the help of those in our Congressional delegation fighting to help save these important Missouri jobs."

Congresswoman Bush has worked closely with local and national workers and leaders in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)  since she came to Congress to ensure that good-paying, stable, union jobs are a top priority  in Missouri’s First District. 

As a former union member and the daughter of a union meat-cutter, Congresswoman Bush has a long history of standing shoulder to shoulder with workers in St. Louis. Her consistent and vocal support of worker rights has made her standout as a friend of organized labor in St. Louis and Washington, including her advocacy for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO Act) and the Congressional staff labor rights resolution. 

In their letter, the Congresswoman and Rep. Cleaver are requesting a prompt response to the following inquiries:

  1. Does GKN plan to move jobs elsewhere, consolidate, or shut down its business altogether? Aside from closure, what other alternatives have been considered? 

  2. Will GKN commit to participating in discussions to develop a plan that keeps people employed? Does GKN plan to continue producing these parts? If so, where will that work be done? If not, why not? 

  3. What steps is GKN taking to ensure that workers have clear and transparent information during this process? 

  4. By what date will workers have clarity about what is next for the facility so they can make informed decisions? Are there plans to outsource work or transfer employees to other GKN facilities? 

  5. What factors contributed to GKN’s decision to close? Was profitability of the Hazelwood facility a factor? 

  6. Are there any GKN plans, studies or reviews conducted regarding the economic viability of this facility? 

  7. Has GKN received a buy-out offer for the Hazelwood facility? Is there a backup supplier that would replace GKN? 

A full copy of the letter can be found here or below.

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Congresswoman Cori Bush sits on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, serves as the Progressive Caucus Deputy Whip, and proudly represents St. Louis as a politivist in the halls of the United States Congress.



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May 31, 2022

 

Mr. David Paja

Chief Executive Officer

2nd Floor, One Central Boulevard, Blythe Valley Park

Shirley, Solihull, B90 8BG, United Kingdom

 

Mr. Shawn Black

President - Defense

6031 Connection Dr #600

Irving, TX 75039

 

Dear Mr. Paja and Mr. Black,

We have been very disappointed to learn that GKN Aerospace plans to close its Hazelwood facility in December 2023. For the past two decades, GKN has provided a thousand jobs for people and families across the St. Louis region.

The recent announcement that the facility would close next year came as a surprise for our local community, particularly given the risk of losing hundreds of good-paying jobs in the process. Given the impact this would have on families and our economy, our top priority is to see what can be done to keep these jobs in St. Louis.

Additionally, as we continue to gather information the impact this closure will have in our community, we respectfully seek your response to the following questions:

  1. Does GKN plan to move jobs elsewhere, consolidate, or shut down its business altogether? Aside from closure, what other alternatives have been considered?

  2. Will GKN commit to participating in discussions to develop a plan that keeps people employed? Does GKN plan to continue producing these parts? If so, where will that work be done? If not, why not?

  3. What steps is GKN taking to ensure that workers have clear and transparent information during this process?

  4. By what date will workers have clarity about what is next for the facility so they can make informed decisions? Are there plans to outsource work or transfer employees to other GKN facilities?

  5. What factors contributed to GKN’s decision to close? Was profitability of the Hazelwood facility a factor?

  6. Are there any GKN plans, studies or reviews conducted regarding the economic viability of this facility?

  7. Has GKN received a buy-out offer for the Hazelwood facility? Is there a backup supplier that would replace GKN?

As the conversations continue about the future of work at this site, we implore you to center the lives and skills of workers in all considerations as we work together to maintain a strong industrial base in our region for years to come, particularly as we work to sustain vital manufacturing jobs in the St. Louis region.