Dennis Leazier, 48, has worked at the Dana Corporation in Fort Wayne, Indiana for 19 years. The president for USW 903, Leazier works as an electrician at the plant, which produces parts for Jeep, Ford and GM.
Leazier’s has deep roots to the USW, his father was also once the president of the union as well when working in the auto industry was a bit more secure.
Over the past couple of years Leazier has watched the Dana Corporation, a once bustling company, cut its employee ranks from 2,000 to 200. While Leazier is grateful to still be employed at Dana, many of his friends and colleagues are having trouble finding other employment in Fort Wayne.
“They don’t have anywhere to go,” he says, noting that while the auto industry has been particularly hit in recent months, the current economy is not hospitable for those who are just now seeking employment after working at one job for 20, 30, sometimes even 40 years.
“I had people around 40-years old going out to train on computers,” Laezier says. “How can they compete [for a job] with a young person who has used one all their life?”
With many of the other industries in Fort Wayne hit hard as a result of the economy and the decline in the auto industry, union members are pulling together resources to build a food bank for laid-off workers.
Floor workers at Dana recently donated $1,200 so that Leazier could go by food and other essentials to distribute to families facing hard times.
“I try to keep our guys out of the food-banks out there for everyone else,” says Leazier. “We’re going to try and keeping helping ourselves.”
