Toyota to Reopen NUMMI Plant in Fremont: Religious Leaders & Workers Celebrate & Pray for More Jobs

FREMONT, Calif., May 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday, May 24, Bay Area religious, political and community leaders will join to celebrate Toyota's recent decision to partner with Tesla and reopen the NUMMI plant in Fremont - the last automobile production facility in California.

At a time when our State is grappling with a 12.6% unemployment rate and extreme pressures on our schools, healthcare, and housing, Toyota's decision to invest in the viability of California's economic recovery is indeed cause for celebration.

Faith leaders, political and labor leaders will hear from former supply workers of NUMMI as they ask Toyota to stand with members of the community and strengthen the viability of green auto manufacturing and California's economic recovery by rehiring the award winning workforce recently laid off, recognizing their union, and allocating sufficient Toyota production to this facility to insure its viability.

When the Fremont plant closed, 4,700 NUMMI workers were laid off. It's estimated that another 25,000 workers were laid off as a result of the NUMMI closing.

"Toyota has announced that its joint venture with Tesla will hire 1,000 workers," says Bishop Mary Susan Gast, United Church of Christ. "We give thanks to Toyota for responding to the concerns of the community. This is a great start. If Toyota uses their new joint venture with Tesla to turn the old NUMMI facility into a research and production hub for green vehicles, the faith community and all people of good will in California will embrace this company."

Press Conference

Visual: Laying on of hands for delegation to Toyota Headquarters, Torrance, CA

Statements from laid off supply workers for former NUMMI plant, religious and political leaders

Participants (partial list)

Religious Leaders:

• Bishop Mary Susan Gast, Northern California-Nevada, United Church of Christ
• Fr. John Prachoska, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Fremont (Spanish speaker)
• Rev. Rebecca Kuiken, Interfaith Council for Economics and Justice
• Faye Butler, President of Pax Christi, Fremont
• Rev. Ray Waespi, Good Shepherd South East Asian Ministry, Fremont
• Rev. Reginald Swilley, Maranatha Christian Center, San Jose
• Rev. John Sullivan, Hope Lutheran Santa Clara, CA

Workers:

• Maxine Graves, TG California Automotive Sealing Inc., 21 years at time of layoff
• Antonia Jauregui, TG California Automotive Sealing Inc. 8 years at time of layoff (Spanish speaker)
• Catherine Houston, United Steelworkers, Northern and Central California

Political leaders:

• Fremont vice Mayor Bob Wieckowski
• Harry Reed, Chief Consultant, Assembly member Alberto Torrico

SOURCE CLUE California