An Open Letter to the Community

Dear Erie:
The GE contract situation is, undoubtedly, the most pressing issue facing our
community today. We can all agree that the best place to build locomotives is in
Erie, PA. GE Erie employees are a skilled workforce trained in Lean Manufacturing
and Six Sigma.
By any objective measurement, Erie needs General Electric much more than they
need us. While this may not be easy to swallow, it must be recognized and
understood as we face the issues at hand. GE will not go backwards and they will
not stand still, they will move forward. There used to be one GE locomotive
manufacturing plantnow there are two.
It is very concerning to know that national and local union leadership are about to
dismiss an offer of over $100 million in plant improvements and early retirement
incentives. Once this offer is off the table, the prospect of it re-materializing is
extremely thin. GE will more aggressively and formally chart their future path
without Erie as a vital component in their long-term future.
While we clearly did not elect this union leadership, they will have a more profound
and lasting impact on our regions economic and social trajectory than any past or
current publicly elected officials.
All of Erie has seen or experienced first-hand how we have fared when unions and
management get into ever more contentious discussions - the union wins the battle
in the short term, but the company wins the war. The Erie Regions losses through
these wars are well known Zurn, International Paper/Hammermill, and Bucyrus
Erie.
The modernization of the Lawrence Park facility is paramount for our community. It
will ensure that Erie maintains a cost competitive and globally relevant General
Electric presence here for many years to come. Also, it gives us a fighting chance
to keep what we have and, potentially, attract additional investment from General
Electric. If we miss the opportunity to modernize the Lawrence Park facility, GEs
investment dollars will simply go elsewhere--only precipitating downsizing and/or
full closure of the Lawrence Park facility.

There are many in Erie who believe that GE's departure from Erie is a foregone
conclusion and the union should not relinquish anything to the greedy corporate
entity. However, in this game of real life poker, GE is laying out an option to keep us
keep us in the competitive global marketplace game. The Union members
should be given the choice to stay in the game or exit.
GE is showing us a path to jobs. Let the union members vote. Lets not miss this
historic opportunity to grow GE in Erie.
With all this being said, we can live with all of the members of the union collectively
deciding to exit the game with GE. What we cannot live with is the union members
not being given the chance to formally choose their future.
As one of Erie Countys largest business organizations, the Erie Regional Chamber &
Growth Partnership urges all Erie area elected officials, business leaders, and
community stakeholders to join us in supporting our position that the union
membership should be given the opportunity to vote on a proposal that will invest
$50 million into the plant and provide nearly $64 million in early retirement benefits
to existing workers.
There is nothing more important to our communitytoday or tomorrow. Let the
union members vote to preserve their jobs.
Sincerely,
The Executive Committee, Economic Development Committee, & Growth
Partnership Committee
Of the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership