By Eileen Buckley
Lockport, NY – Congressman Thomas Reynolds met with leaders of Delphi Harrison Thermal in Lockport Monday. He says will do his part to help keep Delphi operating.
Reynolds says Delphi Harrison has a large regional impact on Western New York's economy and is a significant employer with more than 4,500 workers. Reynolds says he wants to make sure the automotive supplier remains stable.
The Lockport facility remains on the corporations troubled sites list -- a list Delphi Harrison uses in referring to facilities that need to be fixed, sold or closed. But Reynolds says he's impressed with a management-labor deal reached last year between the company and United Auto Workers Local 686.
"That's been one of the key ingredients of moving into the 21st century and the competitive nature of the automotive business," Reynolds said. "Management and labor working together to continue the objective of having a strong corporation that has employees who are working and making a good salary."
Reynolds says while touring the site, he had a chance to see first hand some of the challenges Delphi Harrison faces as an auto parts supplier. He says he use his influence in Washington to offer assistance so it is able to compete world-wide.
"Not only what I might be able to do at the federal level, but any assistance in helping Senator Maziarz and the state delegation in efforts with Albany," he said.
Reynolds says he will also work toward securing federal dollars for training programs at Delphi Harrison. The congressman says at this point the company will continue with its plans to be a "strong, vibrant" presence in the area.