Toyota Cutting Jobs at Buffalo Plant
Toyota Cutting Jobs at Buffalo Plant Save Email Print
Posted: 9:45 PM Nov 20, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:45 PM Nov 20, 2008
 Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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BUFFALO, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The nationwide auto industry crisis is affecting the Toyota plant in Putnam County.

The company announced Wednesday it would release 120 temporary workers at its manufacturing plant in Buffalo by the end of January.

The plant will also shut down production lines for Christmas earlier than expected and cut back on overtime.

A spokesperson for the auto maker says it's part of a company-wide effort to reduce costs due to the slowing demand for products.

Toyota’s sales dipped 23 percent in October.
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Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 7, 2009 at 01:10 AM
I am curious...Who told you Deb that the VTM's didn't get unemployment. My father in law worked for Toyota as a contractor, not even a VTM, and he gets unemployment, it sounds like someone didn't check into it properly. Possibly someone worked in the plant in WV but lived in OH, you have to file for unemployment with WV.
Posted by: Deb on Dec 20, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Toyota needs the UAW! Why do you think they hire temps with no benifits, low pay and no unemployment? So they can coddle the full time workers to keep the union out! Everyone deserves good wages and benifits for a job well done especially if they are doing the same job as higher paid workers. Toyota is exploiting the people of Buffalo!
Posted by: anonymous in IN on Dec 2, 2008 at 10:13 PM
TEMPORARY means SHORT TERM. Why the surprise. You did not have to take a temporary job - maybe you should have been looking for a long term job while working at Toyota temporarily. If any of you knew Toyota at all you know that TM's do not get to sit on their butts doing nothing - kaizen...and on. I just thank God every day that my husband works for Toyota and not one of the Big 3. Toyota is very smart in their practices, reducing, reusing, and minimizing. They will survive WITHOUT OUR TAX MONEY BEING HANDED OVER TO THEM! Amen.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 26, 2008 at 08:55 AM
Because of this Diamond Electric that supplies that plant and the Georgetown plant is shutting down the last 2 weeks of December and as laid off all of it temp workers and full time employees are on low earnings for a short time...
Posted by: edward from the tri-state on Nov 24, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Well since these are temp workers toyota owes them no loyalty at all. No unemployment benifits at all. Of course this is just fine. Too bad they they have cut starting wages there snce the plant opened. I could have had me a job there a few years ago, but the pay just wasn't enough to cover the 40 mile drive. it was really thier loss. I certaainly did not want to move. Any way those that like to work for manpower toyota is the place for you,.....when they want people agian. Its really a shame that companys can just tell people you work for them on a as needed basis. employees make plan as well as companys.
Posted by: Debbie on Nov 24, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Toyota has been a good corporate citizen putting a lot back to the community, this is sad that some are losing their jobs, but I feel the company will weather the storm in the end because they make a quality product and have for years, my first Camry I drove 10 years and sold it to my niece with 200,000 plus miles, it's now appraoching 300,000 miles and her younger sister is driving it. In a tight economy you want reliable long lasting products, that are cheap to keep. My sympathies to those losing their jobs.
Posted by: Leeroy Jankins on Nov 24, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Thank the GOP for this. Bush has run this country into the ground. Thank God things will "change" when Obama gets in office. Can't come soon enough.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 24, 2008 at 11:22 AM
everyone knows the vtms are the hardest workers. it will be interesting to see the "full time" employees get back to their jobs and have to stop standing around talking all day while the vtms do all of their work...
Posted by: VTM on Nov 23, 2008 at 09:00 PM
I heard today from a pretty good source that Toyota is also looking to let some full time employees go...I hope that's not true but everything else has come true...I hear that they are going to start with the VTM'S that they just hired and work their way down...Hope they dont start with lazy Toyota workers they wont know where to begin...Hope your sure your Husbands/Wifes are good workers...right Lea
Posted by: anonymous on Nov 23, 2008 at 08:26 PM
What is hard to understand is: why the very day that the news story broke did Toyota call in the VTM's and tell them that there last day was Dec. 18, not the end of January as the news story said. Could it be that they were trying to "not be the bad guy"? They wanted the public to perceive that they were not letting these VTM's go A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!! The story was false and someone should have corrected it.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 23, 2008 at 06:35 PM
looks like the team members have to start working again lol...
Posted by: Proud Toyota TM on Nov 23, 2008 at 03:50 AM
I started at Toyota as a VTM in May of 2006 and was hired by Toyota in August of 2007. I proudly wear my Toyota apparel out in public and I am proud to be a Toyota employee. Toyota is committed to long term job stability for its full time Team Members. For the past couple of months, Toyota TMs in TX, AL, and IN have suspended production so that their facilities could be modified to produce a higher-demand product. During this time, these TMs received 100% of their pay while off. These TMs, while being paid by Toyota, worked on community service projects to better life in their community. Toyota TMs are now paying a reduced amount for benefits once covered COMPLETELY by the company. Toyota has done this to try to head off long-term health care costs such as the $13 billion per year cost GM is facing for long-term care of its employees and retirees. The last time a full-time Toyota TM was laid off in North American was in the 1950s. All employers should be this dedicated!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 23, 2008 at 03:49 AM
isnt the word temporary mean just for a little bit of time?
Posted by: anomyous on Nov 23, 2008 at 02:47 AM
Im am so sorry for those of you who are losing your jobs. Especially at this time of the year. Im not a Toyota employee but have relatives and friends who work there. Toyota is a business just like the big 3. They have to make cut backs like everyone to help survive the economy and protect their company and full time employees. The temp workers were called that because they were just that. They were used to supplment the work force in a time of need and they are the first to be let go when that need goes away. Protects the full time workers and makes the company look good when they can say they have never laid off a permanent worker. Still not fair. Especially when we have families to provide for.
Posted by: Toyota Wife on Nov 22, 2008 at 01:18 PM
People, this is NOT Toyota's fault. This is a good company that is looking ahead and trying to protect their permanent ful-time employees. Maybe, Toyota could have handled laying off the VTMs differently, I don't know. Isn't this up to the temporary agencies that these VTMs work for, though? I am definately not against the VTMs because those are some of the best workers that Toyota has, but Toyota does have to look out for their full-time team members. My prayers are with these temporaries that are being laid off so close to the holidays.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 22, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I used to work there at the plant ! I feel sorry for the vtms some of them work harder then the TOYOTA Workers .The are some best of works I have seen .OCCwv are some of the best workers the got there to ! They (DON'T GET ENOUGH thanks for all the do there ! To them i say as well ! GREAt JOB guys and gals!
Posted by: Teamleader Wife on Nov 22, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Let me tell you something VTM Maybe with that attitude thats why you dont have a job there. And Honey I know My Hubby Worked HArd As A VTM and AS A TeamMember fOR TMMWV. THATS WHY TOYOTA HIRED HIM. VTM YOU KNOW IT WAS A TEMP JOB RIGHT THAT IS WHAT MANPOWER IS. MY HUBBY WENT IN AND HE NEW HE WASNT GUARTEED A JOB AND YOU DID TO.
Posted by: 4real on Nov 22, 2008 at 09:40 AM
That ok they are keeping the fact that some Full Time workers are going to be let go and hours cut. We will see if you some of you view it the same then.
Posted by: VTM on Nov 21, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Well when we got to work today we had another meeting letting us know if we didnt take our vacation we wouldn't get paid for it...Keeps getting better at TMMWV..as for the wife of the Team Leader,there is only a handful of people there who really work hard and I have only seen 3 or 4 Team Leaders who do...So I hope your husband is one of them...but I doubt it...But to all of the VTMS left there I wish you all good luck and hope you find something to provide for your families...
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 21, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Im one of the workers that is getting laid off from Toyota. Im shocked that toyota would tell the media 1st before they told use. They where aware of this weeks ago,but in our last HR meeting the mang told use we would remain there the rest of our time. And if we stayed to the end we would receive $1500,If we would leave before we wouldnt get the bonus. And now they have the nerve to call it an Compensation package, It was offered to everyone well before this took place. So well If any one from TOYOTA HR is reading this DONT LIE TO THE PRESS because that is what this is,Or step up and give an package for real.Not something that was allready there.
Posted by: Amy on Nov 21, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Why is THIS GW'S fault? Come on! People have been living off credit for years. They've dug themselves in a hole and the dirt is being covered on them. Sooner or later, that debt was going to catch up w/ them. I do agree. BHO needs prayer--LOTS of it!
Posted by: Wife of a Toyota Work on Nov 21, 2008 at 11:00 AM
My husband works for Tmmwv as a teamleader. He did work as a vtm for 19 months before he got hired but your not guarteed a job there. People there knows that, I didnt My hubby never told me that till his time was almost up. But thank god he did get hired on. For the comment that only vtms are the hard workers. My husband as a teamLeader is just as hard of a worker now than he was a vtm. But My prayers are out to the family that are laid off.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:09 AM
To the person who said they learned about losing their job from WSAZ...well...WSAZ was told NOT to run the story until 6pm the next day! But, they had to be the 1st! So, no more Toyota news for them in the furture! On another note...look into how WELL the workers at the KY Toyota Plant are treated! They get EVERYTHING! BIGGER bonuses, more pay, better insurance, etc.! The plant in WV is VERY UNFAIR to ALL of it's workers!
Posted by: Joe on Nov 21, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Dear Toyato V T M ,, HEY I hear ya dude just goes to prove you can't believe what people tell you they knew it was coming but you were hired as Temp meaning it would end one day sooooooooo just pick up the pieces and lick your wounds ,, Hell Maggie still has a job but thinking your part of xmas will be a little short this year but you are a big boy and you will survive hey dude I really am sorry you lost your job
Posted by: toyota employee on Nov 21, 2008 at 07:48 AM
i am a full time employee at the plant.its no secret that the economy is bad.the vtms have reps there to answer questions they may have.weve have meetings every night discussing the market.not really a suprise they are getting laid off.we were told tuesday night about it.still feel bad for them.and i respect them.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 21, 2008 at 07:12 AM
How can this all be to blame on Toyota? No one is buying new car's truck's nothing the mostly are looking to go smaller and cheaper. Be thankful to those who was on a TEMP job that you did have the chance to make some money and plan ahead for this. It will get better............ lets hope.
Posted by: Chad on Nov 21, 2008 at 07:05 AM
No one can afford a new car and one reason is what they pay there employees! Not only do they get great pay but very nice bonus also! and the machines do most of the work. And as for the CEO's, fire them and sell those private jets!
Posted by: out of work on Nov 21, 2008 at 07:03 AM
i also got offered a job back in may and the manager that called me didn't keep her word. i know i was never guaranteed a job, but when i'm getting compliments from people who make 3 times or more the amount of money that i do, that says something. and most of the vtm's who are getting laid-off are better than most of the people who are full-time workers. i've seen full-time workers toss a bag of gloves around like a football on the work floor when they should be working. instead of doing their job, they're usually spending up to 20 minutes at a time talking to whatever good looking girl happens to be standing nearby. i don't know why toyota wants to cure a problem with a solution that has nothing to do with the problem in the first place.
Posted by: Just Getting By in WV on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:59 AM
Manpower (held the biggest contract there) THEY DO NOT WANT to take responsibility for ANYTHING! They ALWAYS pass the blame on the organizations that the employee's are sent to! They are greedy JUST like Wall Street, Auto makers, etc. Maybe, just maybe..this will finally BRING MANPOWER down to a level that they NEED! I feel for those individuals who have been a perm/temp. fixture and worked hard! Manpower DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU! To them you are JUST A NUMBER and was a money maker FOR THEM!
Posted by: another "Happy" story, about family suffering.. I am so sorry for you guys..I understand.. on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:54 AM
I am so sorry to the families this effects. I know you guys are devastated. I am SCARED at this point. What are the Americian people going to do? "Upset on Nov 20 11:26pm" tell me what to do and I will help fight for these people. My family would be so screwed if something like this happened, my husband is the #1 bread winner. I have a mass on my brain and can't work. I lost my job back in July. We are barley able to get grociers now. Found out I can get disabilty, STILL WAITING for my $600.00 a month {WOOO HOOO!} to be approved by the U.S goverment.. I am going to put Toyota on my long list of people who have lost their jobs and pray.. Once again I am so sorry. People pray for this situation..
Posted by: ciara on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:12 AM
our community should feel fortunate to have the toyota plant, they could have located elsewhere.blame George Bush he is the one who sat on his hands and let the economy go south while he took care of his rich friends.he is now doing midnight regulations to hurt the working poor even more. he should have worked as hard to save the economy,but he is using his last 60 days in office to walk away and leave the white house burnung.Let us pray for Barack Obama
Posted by: VTM2 on Nov 21, 2008 at 06:11 AM
I am getting laid off. Is it Toyota's fault? NO! I love working there! It's a great place to work. The economy has cycles and unfortunately, we are in the downard part of that cycle (escalated by our credit culture where we buy everything on credit and can't pay for it). Thing will get better again and I will be eagerly awaiting a call from TMMWV to return (even if it is a 2nd round as a VTM).
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 21, 2008 at 12:02 AM
my husband has been there for 2 years and is being laid off. never missed a day. yes i know all about VTMS. and a manager called him 3 months ago offered him a job and didnt follow through with it. She should have called and got hopes up. and managers do go around telling VTMS that this rumor isnt true. they are wanting to keep every one. managment needs to stop lieing and just flat out tell the ppl what is going on!
Posted by: upset on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:26 PM
i think people just need someone to blame. If we would quit pointing fingers at each other and try to come up with a solution, we may start to dig ourselves out of this hole. In a way Toyota planned ahead by hiring these temp. positons. i hate this for the men and woman that are losing these jobs. hopefully when they seek further employment they can find something more permanent.
Posted by: WORKING POOR on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:21 PM
I STILL CANT AFFORD A NEW CAR.
Posted by: Selena on Nov 20, 2008 at 08:27 PM
my husband is a vtm there and yes we knew it was coming, but i think it sucks that it has to be right before christmas. we also knew as someone so rudely pointed out that it was temp work, but they had the chance to get on full time. my husband has been there long enough to get an interview before he leaves, some were not as lucky. I do not think its toyotas fault, i feel its the economy. my dad works there for toyota and he has been there 5 years and they treat him very well. there has been rumors since he started of a layoff, i feel as if everyone needs to offer their prayers for these familes during their times of need instead of being inconsiderate.
Posted by: Toyota VTM on Nov 20, 2008 at 06:50 PM
I am a VTM that is getting laid-off.I have been at Toyota for a long time...This is a great place to work if you are lucky enuff to get on...It's true everyone knew this was coming... but management kept telling everyone this isn't true...and we all know what happened...as for the people who has family that works there and say it should be now surprise...well it's not but VTM'S are the hardest workers there and should be treated with respect and not like just another number!
Posted by: RoaneCo. on Nov 20, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Great comment PointofView, I agree 100%. The greed of big business all these years and these anit-union republicans are the most to blame for our poor economy. I know the unions are not perfect, but I have yet to see a union member paid $40 million plus a year to bankrupt a company. This bailout is a dang if you do dang if you don't situation if I have ever saw one. What good is it going to do bailing these companies out if the working class are still sitting there with empty pockets. I have been saying it for years and now it is coming to pass, when you eliminate the middle class the country will fall. What if we divided $700 billion up between the working class, would that have stimulated the economy? Would homes be built, cars be bought etc...? To be honest, I don't think we have seen the worst of it yet.
Posted by: Lady on Nov 20, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Manpower or who ever your temp service is should have told you, not Toyota. My husband has been employed there for 9 years and Toyota has always been good to him. I'm sorry for those of you who will not have a job in January but you knew when you went to work through the temp service that you may not always have a job there.
Posted by: Toyota Wife on Nov 20, 2008 at 06:32 PM
My husband is a full-time employee @ Toyota and has been there since the beginning. I am still worried, though. As for the VTMs, they are temporary but some have been there for 2 years and they are better workers than some of the full-timers. It's just a shame and I so hate this for them.
Posted by: toyota employee on Nov 20, 2008 at 05:49 PM
True this is not fair to the VTM's being right before Christmas. Most knew, however, this was coming. It was no secret. The shock came that it would be this soon. (3-4 months early). These people do the same jobs that we do, but KNOW that they probably wouldn't be offered a job. Toyota sales are sluggish, but they are smart enough to slow down on production, unlike GM who just keeps running and running, filling the car lots until they can't cram any more cars on there. These people who are out of work, have a very real chance of getting hired through Toyota when the economy returns. I wish all of them the best of luck and hope to see them soon.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 05:34 PM
I work for a supplier that supplies the Buffalo plant and the Grorgetown plant. Hope all goes well for them and us right down the road.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 04:57 PM
I have been @TMMWV for over a year and Love to wake up in the morning to fined out on wsaz that Im going to be out of a job when nobody there would tell us face to face. I have been a hard worker for them, all we ask as VTM's is common respect for TMMWV to tell it's employees FACE to FACE. We all knew this was comming!!!
Posted by: Life's not fair on Nov 20, 2008 at 04:27 PM
No it's not fair, but then, life isn't fair. My mom always told me that, and I tell my kids the same thing. A company can't keep their employees manufacturing items when there is no consumer or business demand for it. That's a prescription for business failure. Don't blame Toyota; blame the current state of the economy, and hold on tight. Things will get worse before they get better.
Posted by: ANON123 on Nov 20, 2008 at 03:01 PM
These people are temps and they knew when they where hired through Manpower that there was a good chance they wouldn't be guaranteed a job.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:20 PM
my husband works there, as well...he hasn't ever missed a day. it really isn't fair...
Posted by: SHUCKS on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Just like everyone else then huh.
Posted by: PointofView on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Sorry to all those employees losing their jobs. Especially at this time of the year. I wonder now how these lay-offs will be blamed on the UAW. Many keep blaming the unions for the crisis we are now in. Well how do you account for the loss of jobs where there is NO union? Answer is that you can't. The unions are not the source of our economic problems. It's due to out-dated trade agreements and greedy top management. If people aren't working, they can't afford to put gas in their cars, much less afford to purchase a new one. Let's not forget the oil companies either. Way to go for those profits. You've now aided in pretty much crippling our economy and ultimately only hurt your long-term profits because people can no longer afford to go anywhere so they won't be buying more gas to get to those destinations. Oh yeah, let's not forget about the greedy mortgage lenders who needed bailout when they lied to consumers and loaned money they knew the consumers couldn't afford.
Posted by: Lea on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:49 PM
They are Temp jobs for a reason. What the main issue is when they start cutting full time employees. That is when we will have to worry. My husband works there as well. It hasnt been a sercret in the plant that things are going slower.
Posted by: Spouse of Toyota Employee on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
My husband also works there until Jan that is then he dont but no matter how much it stinks that he is losing his Job I hnow that God will help us through the rough waters ahead of us and as long as we give him the glory then there is no reason to worry about it.
Posted by: Charlie on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:53 AM
I have it! Finally a very reasonable solution for the automakers in America....Turn to your old partners in crime against the American people don't turn to us after the raking over we took from your gas prices. Look if the petroleum companies want to keep selling in this country let them the big oil company's bail them out. Seems if the auto makers goes out of business so does the oil company's. They won't let that happen ,they are just sitting back waiting on our stupid government to give our money away to help them if they see the government isn't biting then they will have to loan the cash. Best idea I've heard.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:00 AM
MY HUSBAND WORKS, WELL IS DID TILL NOW. TOYOTA SUCKS! MANAGER DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING! NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS! ):
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  • Posted By: goodorbad: I look at it like this-if you dont have anything to hide, shut up and do the test!
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  • Posted By: Rob: Why does everyone have to be so into using the term "racist" and have that kind of attitude. I know what my heritage is and who my ancestors were but you want to know what I consider myself? I AM AN AMERICAN! I was born and raised in this country and that's how I feel it should be. Born here, raised here.....then by God you are an American. Not an African American, not an Asian American etc. etc. You are an AMERICAN!
  • Posted By: Chris: To Ex-Officer: I agree with you 100% about the pay of police dept and the drug testing. I was formerly involved with the BCPD and had multiple ride alongs with the BCSO. I am probably one of their biggest critics due to having watch some of the bad side of the department for a long time. I wish that I could tell everything that I have seen officers do,which would put most of them behind bars or they'll lose their sheild, But retalliation is bad in our area. To the cops that do their job and do it with the best intentions, I proud of you and don't mean any disrespect. To the ones who I personally watch being more currupt then the "badguys" here,your day will be coming.
  • Posted By: Pablo: Teachers aren't the only ones underpaid. Law enforcement officers are underpaid also. And I'd like to speak about them. For example, I'm sure any parent would sacrifice their live for thier children. And several may give thier live to save their spouse. A few individuals may even do it for a close friend. But, I only know of 3 types of beings who will sacrifice thier lives for complete strangers; indeed even for people who hate them. The first would be our men and women in our armed forces. The second would be our law enforcement officers. And of course, third would be our Savior, Jesus Christ. Others are killed in the line of their employment, but not in order to save a complete stranger. Everytime a cop puts on his/her uniform, they can be a target for anyone upset about something. Even though it doesn't involve the cop personally, that very cop will give his life to save yours when a problem arises. We need to give our cops not only a wage, but a living wage and a great big THANKS.
  • Posted By: Craig: If what I am hearing is correct that Kanawha County teachers accepted a pay raise in return for submitting to drug testing, and then sued successfully so they do not have to be subject to testing, then why shouldn't we the taxpayers demand they return the raise?
  • Posted By: teresa: racist lmao i am one cherokee,german,irish,german,and who knows what else TIRED of hearing of racist comments u are either GOOD OR BAD k no skin color needed just evil or NOT
  • Posted By: Ex-Officer: I agree with Robert 100% I worked in law enforcement and loved the job but try to rise a family on less than 10.00 an hour (out of that pay for your own duty gear and gun). I believe that all public safety workers should be drug tested but i also believe that they should be paid for the job that they do. Not many people understand what a public safty worker goes through. Would you put your life on the line for this kind of pay? Remember the saying that you get what you pay for. I see this in several new officers in my area. Don't get me wrong there are still very good officers in law enforcement. Something really needs to be done about the low pay for these jobs.
  • Posted By: Garland: What's the difference between teachers and other workers(coal mineers, bus drivers, state employees,etc.)? Teachers aren't any better are they?
  • Posted By: : This is not a comment, but I would like comments on it please. What do you think of Poca High School? Racist or not?
  • Posted By: Robert: We the people, through our own self centeredness and apathy, have allowed our teachers and police officials to be some of the most underpaid people in the United States. We are trusting our childrens education and our public safety to the very people that are some of the most underpaid profesions in the U.S.. If I could change this, I would. However, I do believe that these people should be randomly drug tested. I work in the construction industry and I have no problem being drug tested. I have nothing to hide. I also believe that any person who is intrusted with the safety of others should have nothing to hide. This includes plitical officials up to and including the president.
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