Supporting the workers at the Elmwood Avenue General Electric Plant.

WHEREAS, For three generations, Southwest Philadelphians have worked in and supported the General Electric Plant on Elmwood avenue. It has been in continuous operation for three quarters of a century because of the skill and dedication of its workers; and

WHEREAS, General Electric now plans to close the Elmwood Avenue Plant, thus causing unemployment for two hundred and sixteen citizens in Southwest Philadelphia. This plan is moving forward despite the fact that these workers helped generate $14.3 million in profits last year alone at the Elmwood Avenue Plan; and

WHEREAS, In the year 2000, General Electric earned profits of $12.7 billion. Despite this enormous profit, and despite the continued profitability of the Elmwood Avenue Plant, the company is abandoning its workers there, just at the time in our nation and our economy when keeping people employed is not only important but also a patriotic gesture; and

WHEREAS, The GE workers and its union have planned a rally in support of their plant on November 17, 2001 at 11:00 a.m. in Elmwood Park between Seventy-first and Seventy-second Streets and Buist and Dicks Streets, and we encourage all concerned citizens to come out and support the workers in this important cause; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby support the workers at the Elmwood Avenue GE Plant and urge General Electric to reconsider its untimely plan to close the plant.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That certified copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the Officers and Board of Directors of General Electric as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End