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Jun 27, 2008 6:06 pm US/Central
Hundreds Of Arlington GM Workers Say Goodbye
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
A lot of goodbyes were said today at Arlington's General Motors assembly plant.
Hundreds of employees decided to take advantage of a special buyout package.
Frank and Susana Armenta met 30 years ago on the assembly line at the GM plant in Southgate, California. Today they left the Arlington line together.
"They hired a lot of people that year in Southgate," Frank said, "and we were just new hires then, you know, both young kids.
All of a sudden I saw her, she saw me and it was on!"
On and on they went from one GM plant to another.
Throughout most of those years they worked the night shift.
"We worked very hard and then we got laid off," Susana said.
"We went through a lot of layoffs together."
They also made a lot of good friends.
Today 248 employees of the Arlington plant retired.
Each has at least 30 years of service.
But the cars they've made aren't selling well.
GM is making deep cuts and will idle the Arlington plant for seven weeks this year.
The Armentas left today with $45,000 each as part of the buyout package GM offered union employees.
Now this family has enough money to pay off their mortgage.
"General Motors teaches you how to survive," said Susana.
"We've learned how to survive through all the layoffs and working.
Just work hard and hang in there and everyone will be fine."
The Armentas plan to spend most of their free time babysitting so their children can continue to work.
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