"Here we grow again"

By Scott Godshaw

Larry Bartling, Vice-President of Briggs & Stratton Milwaukee Division, announced in his informational meetings that Briggs is entering into a proposed partnership with (at this point) an unnamed company to eliminate the Die Cast division at the Burleigh plant. Certainly not the best kept secret, the rumors of this impending sale had been swirling for months. This could eventually mean yet another loss of approximately 372 of our members' jobs.

Bartling, with a straight face, assured us that he will continue to "grow the business". "Grow the business" is a catch phrase that was bantered about in the mid 90's.

The main initiative of the Pilot Program was to "grow the business" where the Company was going to beat the bushes to bring in work to fill up the north end. Unfortunately, the north end will be used as a warehouse filled up with products from Generac. Grow the business.

We also heard the term in relation to Die Cast about bringing in external work to grow the business to offset all the internal work we were losing. Yes, some work was brought in but the internal work moving out far exceeded the new work coming in. Grow the business.

Let's not forget, Briggs was also going to grow the business at the foundry where external work was brought in. Let's see… What happened to the foundry? Oh, that's right the foundry was sold also.

The definition of the word grow is to develop or thrive, to increase in size, quantity, etc. and to cultivate or raise. The only thing that seems to be growing in Milwaukee is the continued alarming number of job loss for our members.

If Bartling ever loses his job, he certainly would have a future in show business as he gave quite a performance acting as if everything is rosy in Milwaukee. He also was able to deliver a song & dance routine to some of the more difficult questions he sidestepped from our members.

In the greater Milwaukee area (and maybe it's the way of the world) you will notice old businesses such as hotels, restaurants, movie theaters and such are being demolished to pave the way for medical clinics, Walgreen's or Wal-Marts.

How soon will we be seeing a Wal-Mart on one side of 124th & Burleigh, and a Walgreen's on the other? After all, the medical clinic will already be in place in the middle.