There is a trend going on at one of Kosciusko County's largest employers, which also happens to be one of the largest orthopedics manufacturers. in the world. That trend is terminating an aging workforce and replacing those workers with temporary workers. Over the last couple of years that this has been going on, hundreds have been let go only to be replaced by temps, many times the temps that were being trained replaced them.
Nothing about the trend is good, it is unfair to the replaced worker and it is not fair to the temp that has been taken in by a promise of a good job. The new temp is also a victim as well, they are told from day one that if they work hard, do a good job, someday they will be a full-time employee, but until then they get to work for less money, no benefits or insurance for as long as the company wants them to.
The dirty little secret here is many times the offer of full-time employment from this company never comes, it was just a pipe dream. More than a few of the temps that have fallen for this scheme over the years usually give up a job with benefits to come chase the carrot that is just out of reach for most of them.
The only way the current full-time workforce that is still there can protect themselves is to unionize. I know that some of you just about fainted from that word, but guess what? You don't see temps replacing full-time employees at the three other United Steel Workers locations in town, their union contract protects them from that. Any employee of this company that has had enough and does not want to be the next one replaced by a temp should call me. My cell is 574-376-0606; I will put you in contact with the union rep of your choice. Protecting your job is your right. Stand up, fight back and unionize today.
