‘Umbrella of stress’ on GM staff, 2 years after plant closed
When General Motors ended a half-century of building cars in Ohio’s blue collar corner, 1,600 workers had to decide whether to accept the automaker’s offer to move to another factory.
Those with enough seniority retired. A few started new careers. Everyone else from GM’s shuttered assembly plant in Lordstown went as far away as Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri, some leaving behind their families so they could hang onto their pensions and high-paying union jobs.
Now, two years later, many of those autoworkers are finding that their lives and futures are just as unsettled.
Worries about the fastchanging auto industry and the stability of their jobs have left hundreds still unsure whether to uproot entirely and sell their homes. Some are spending every weekend driving hundreds of miles back to Ohio to see their children. Others are holding out hope that the next contract will give them a chance for an early retirement.
No matter their situation, they all face the same question: is it worth chasing a job always seen as a sure path to the American dream?
‘It’s like he wasn’t even there’
By now, Tiffany Davis figured she and her two children would be settling into a new place with her husband, Tom. That was the plan — to join him when the past school year ended — after he transferred to GM’s Corvette factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Instead, she’s been a single mom much of the past 18 months to their two children back in Ohio, where she also teaches fifth grade.
Only on weekends are they all together when Tom makes the 16-hour round trip home.
Even then, they only get one full day together that’s usually filled with catching up on household chores.
When the weekend is over, “It’s like he wasn’t even there,” Tiffany Davis said.
“I knew this would be difficult, but I could not have anticipated how difficult it would be. I’m worn out and exhausted,” she said. “We’re always under this umbrella of stress.”
Tom Davis, 39, has been home more than expected this year because of work shutdowns caused by the pandemic and supply issues. That’s added more worries, and comes at a time when GM is beginning a transition to making battery-powered vehicles that will need fewer workers.
“It brings up all of those scary feelings we had before,” she said.
Tom, who started working for GM soon after high school and has about 11 years before he can retire, said he and his wife don’t know what will come next now that their plans to move to Kentucky are on hold.
Do they continue living apart? Do they uproot their kids from school? Whose job is more stable? Should he transfer to a closer plant when he’s eligible in another year?
“I still have days where I’m like, ‘Did I do the right thing?’” he said.
‘It’s tough now’
That’s a question Jim Moyers asks just about every day he’s away from his family.
Moyers transferred almost two years ago to GM’s assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan, that makes Cadillacs and Chevy Camaros. He shares a sparsely furnished apartment with another former Lordstown worker.
New Bohemia Brewing Co., also known as NuBo, is at 1030 41st Ave, Santa Cruz. Here owner and Brewmaster Dan Satterthwaite creates, experiments, brews and packs all of his renowned craft beer. Satterthwaite has been brewing professionally since the 1990s, and has produced beers that include his HelleSexy chocolate lager, Japanese white peach and the Fuzz Hazy. He even uses local Verve Nitro coffee to create his Pleasure point Porter, a silky smooth beer, that you need to try on tap.
Satterthwaite has adapted to the current times and created a brand new beer garden where anyone can come and grab a beer and some amazing barbecue outside.
Let’s talk barbecue. Michael Lipscomb, known as “Big Mike” has a passion for creating food that tastes great. His vision, “Bring modern techniques to classic food.” Big Mike, is creating his own sauces with NuBo’s very own beers. The beer cheese sauce that goes with the fresh giant pretzels is created with the Velvet Revolution beer, bringing a nice balance to the salty bread flavor.
His Carolina Gold sauce is made with a mustard base with roasted pineapple and NuBo’s Pineapple Express beer, giving it a nice zing to add to all the variety of smoked meats he’s cooking.
His brisket is made with a secret rub that is massaged with perfection and smoked for 16 hours. His pulled pork is seasoned with smoked paprika, sugar, garlic, cinnamon, and receives the same long 16 hour smoke.
The pork ribs, are seasoned with a sweet and spicy dry rub made with a brown sugar base. Order the Brisket Mac and Cheese. Have them separate, or mix them together for a food marriage that is meant to be.
He suggests coming in and ordering “the BBQ Tour,” the
three-meat plate that gives you a little bit of all the flavors, pulled pork, brisket, and ribs.!
Vegans, we have options for you as well. The house made mole based chili is filled with carrots, celery and onions, with some impossible burger added in to make it hearty. The extra large pretzel with the beer cheese sauce is also a nice treat to munch on in between your sips of refreshing NuBo beer.
Big Mike takes his time with his craft, and holds himself with a high standard of providing quality barbecue that is consistent every time you order from him.
He wants everyone in Santa Cruz county to experience his barbecue created with years of culinary experience and his secrets passed down from his grandma. Come to NuBo and get some ” Simple good food.”
For more information, check out their Instagram, instagram. com/nubobrew/ and website nubobrew.com/.
Beer Garden: Open from noon to 8 p.m. daily, with COVID-19 safety measures in place. Online Beer Store: Open 24/7. Pickup and to-go orders at the brewery: noon to 8 p.m.