Brown holds news conference on DHL, auto industry

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) held a press conference Monday afternoon outside his Cleveland office to discuss the news that freight carrier DHL will lay off people at its Wilmington facility.

Earlier this year, the estimated number of people who were going to be put out of work once the DHL-UPS merger occurred was 8,000. However, a DHL spokesman said the 9,500 people to be cut work throughout the country and will not be all cut from Ohio.

Brown said that he was deeply distressed by the news from DHL.

"The Ohio Congressional delegation, the governor, ABX, ASTAR, and Wilmington-area workers offered to work out a plan to help keep the company viable and save Ohio jobs," Brown said. "It saddens me that DHL refused to consider any proposal."

Brown said it's imperative to secure all available emergency assistance for the workers and their families. Brown also called on Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to award emergency funds to the area, immediately.

"DHL, for its part, needs to file WARN notices for every worker immediately, so that all available federal emergency funds make their way to Wilmington-area families," Brown said. "I wrote to DHL Express Chief Executive Officer John Mullen last Friday to urge this and today's announcement makes it all the more urgent.  I also call on DHL to make clear its plans for severance and assistance to the thousands of workers who face unemployment."

Brown said that despite DHL's announcement that it will no longer operate in the domestic shipping market, it does appear that DHL will still need to keep a U.S. presence for its international operation.

"On behalf of the tens of thousands of ABX, ASTAR, and DHL families feeling betrayed today, I urge DHL to keep this presence in Wilmington," Brown said. "Ohio put out the welcome mat for DHL five years ago.

Today, Ohio families feel a door slammed in their faces. DHL has an opportunity to mitigate some of the damage it has brought upon the community by being a good corporate citizen and working with the state in the use of the air park and in ensuring acceptable severance packages."

In addition to his DHL statement, Brown also called for the federal government to aid the struggling U.S. auto industry. 

Brown is supporting a Democratic initiative calling on Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to consider using authority given under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to prevent industry collapse and the loss of millions of American jobs.

Brown's office noted that on Friday, General Motors and Ford Motor Company posted record losses. Also Friday, GM announced plans to cut 1,060 jobs from its Lordstown, Ohio plant. Ohio is home to more than 100,000 assembly and supplier jobs.

In response to growing concern about auto jobs in Ohio, Brown released the following statement at today's news conference:

"Tens of thousands of Ohio families rely on the auto industry for their livelihood. The collapse of the domestic auto industry is not a viable option for our nation's economic security. Secretary Paulson must use the authority given by Congress to help secure the auto industry and save jobs. In addition, Congress should provide for additional low-interest loans to struggling auto companies.

"These provisions must come with shared sacrifice by industry executives. I strongly support restrictions to executive pay and bonuses as condition for government help. We must act immediately to prevent the loss of more Ohio jobs and we must do so with a watchful eye over how the funds are used.

"Once we are through the immediate auto industry crisis, I look forward to working with the Obama administration on long-term solutions that will strengthen our domestic industry and create new jobs for middle class families."