WOODS CROSS, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Thousands of Utah jobs are at stake as Congress considers a loan to the Big 3 automakers. In fact, some jobs are already lost due to the economy.
During Thanksgiving week, 42 workers lost their job days at a Woods Cross auto dealership.
One of those laid off told ABC 4 News the timing was terrible.
“Most of the time I can go find another job but not this time, where do I turn to,” said the sales representative who didn’t want to be identified. “It’s terrible everywhere.”
The closings like the one in Woods Cross has mechanic John Jaloviar nervous.
He's been in the business 26-years and works at a Salt Lake dealership.
"I never had a concern coming to work because I thought I proved myself,” he said. “I thought I could fix a car right and get them out. But dealers are closing left and right because of the economy."
Utah auto executives say the major dealerships are solid and will absorb this downturn in the economy.
But they say Congress needs to offer the Big 3 auto makers loans, otherwise many more workers will get squeezed out.
"Without that help we will lose jobs and we will have people unemployed in this state that will be substantially higher than anyone dreamed,” said Robert Garff of Ken Garff Auto Dealerships.
Example, auto dealers spend millions of dollars in advertising. Newspaper, radio and television get a minimum of 25% of their total revenues from the industry.
And there are suppliers, like makers of auto air bags. Autoliv has one of its plants in Brigham City has already closed down plants in Indiana and elsewhere.
To date 50 independent dealerships have shutdown in Utah this year.
"I believe in America and American workers will rise in crisis,” Garff said. “They just need a little time and help.”
