Kokomo Chrysler workers return to work

KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) - Chrysler workers in Kokomo were grateful, some even "giddy" on Monday. Thousands have returned to work after five plants were shut down for nearly two months.

"It's kind of like the first day at school. Everybody's just happy and it's pretty good. Yeah, excited to be back," said assembly line worker Rick Larrison.

When Larrison's assembly line was shut down May 4, he thought his 13-year relationship with Chrysler was over. The future looked grim. But then came news that Italian automaker Fiat was buying Chrysler. For the past two weeks, four of Kokomo's five Chrysler plants have been returning to life. Monday two-thirds of the workers were back on the job.

"You know, they want to do things different. Not the old Chrysler. They want to call us the New Chrysler," said Chrysler worker Mary Conley.

"We're learning how Fiat wants us to do business. It's called World Class Manufacturing," said Rick Ward, Chief Steward of UAW Local 685.

For now, he said the Kokomo Chrysler Transmission Plant will finish up manufacturing 2009 Jeep transmissions.

He believes Fiat intends to continue manufacturing Jeeps and Dodge Ram trucks. But smaller cars are Fiat's goal and so far, details of where and when they will be built are unknown.

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said there is still no guarantee that the plants are open for good. In two weeks, he will travel to Italy to attempt to sell Fiat on what he calls Kokomo's greatest asset its workforce.

"The crafts people here in Kokomo, the skilled trades, the electricians, the pipefitters, the welders. These are true crafts persons."

The Chrysler Casting Plant in Kokomo is scheduled to reopen July 27. The four plants that are open now will come to a screeching halt again on July 13 for a mandatory two week summer break.

Employees who were off for six weeks did receive about 90% of their pay which included unemployment benefits.