Former American Standard worker testifies at hearing
By Kevin Risner, krisner@advertiser-tribune.comArticle Photos
TOLEDO - Tiffin resident Craig Goshe testified Wednesday as one of seven panelists during a Senate hearing at the University of Toledo.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, chaired the field hearing for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The hearing was titled, "Midwest Jobs Picture: Strategies to Rebuild Communities." The hearing was held at the Clean Energy Incubator at the University of Toledo.
Goshe is one of about 200 employees to lose their jobs when American Standard closed its Tiffin plant earlier this year. Goshe testified about the experiences of those workers during and after the plant closing.
About half of American Standard workers who lost their jobs were able to retire, but some with reduced benefits, Goshe said. Many of those who chose to retire with reduced benefits did so because of uncertainty about other employment opportunities, Goshe said.
"Every employee who was eligible for retirement took it," Goshe said.
Of those who could not retire, some have been able to find other employment, but many are earning lower wages or have fewer benefits than they had with American Standard.
