WNY News Now

    , , , , , ,

    Take This Job And Shove It: Allegations of Mass Walkouts Arise At Cummins Plant

    (WNY News Now) – Jamestown, NY – Allegations have arisen regarding mass walkouts among assembly line workers at the Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant. An anonymous source reached out to WNY News Now, alleging that approximately half of an assembly line’s workers had walked out and quit. The source attributed this to the working conditions, alleging…

    By Newsish Staff
    1–2 minutes

    (WNY News Now) – Jamestown, NY – Allegations have arisen regarding mass walkouts among assembly line workers at the Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant.

    An anonymous source reached out to WNY News Now, alleging that approximately half of an assembly line’s workers had walked out and quit. The source attributed this to the working conditions, alleging that workers were given only 2 days off a month, working 13 days at a time. They espoused belief that the workers were “overworked and underpaid.”

    WNY News Now reached out to Cummins for a comment, and were told that, at this time, they could not provide information as to what had or had not happened. We were informed that our message had been forwarded to the plant manager, who may or may not be in contact with us at a later time. We will provide updates as they become available.

    36 responses to “Take This Job And Shove It: Allegations of Mass Walkouts Arise At Cummins Plant”

    1. Chris Avatar
      Chris

      I am a former manager there. The conditions are extreme and cause tremendous strain on the mental health of its workers. Cummins employees worked somewhere in the neighborhood of 3200 hours in 2023, and that trend continues in 2024. Corporate and upper management do not take these issues seriously, and continue to burn people out. The attrition rate is somewhere in the neighborhood of 80%. When will they learn?

      Reply
    2. Melissa Gutknecht Avatar
      Melissa Gutknecht

      Cummins has been doing this for years! I used to be in the Janitorial field, at Cummins back in the 90s and 2000s, People were over worked then!

      Reply
    3. Ronda Avatar
      Ronda

      They treat their people like complete crap they don’t care that people are working in the sweltering heat for 12 hr nights and 13 days straight as long as the big shots have nice AC in their offices.
      They could care less about their mental health and the fact that they don’t EVER see their children as long as they keep pushing out the engines and padding the big wigs pockets!!!!!!
      That place is a nightmare !!!!!!!!

      Reply
    4. Tawny Avatar
      Tawny

      They don’t care about their employees I worked there back in the 90’s and they fired me for taking 3 days off for my grandmas funeral

      Reply
    5. Ash ashle Avatar
      Ash ashle

      Sounds like they need a Union. Call UAW

      Reply
    6. Erock Avatar
      Erock

      Refuse to allow a union in there.. only Cummins plant that is NOT….

      Reply
    7. Donny Avatar
      Donny

      I too work there in 2022 on the x-line. Cell 17 testing, for 17 an hour(first shift). I had surgery they laid me off for 6 months.
      Then in 2023 I went back only to be treated like crap. Told I couldn’t sit. Had to listen to obnoxious music all hours of the night. The line would go down every night just stand there for 6 hours ever day. They placed me at a different cell 1 paying me 16 an hour.
      Then HR hearing me complain about it moves me from first to Third!! Then changing me from x line (line setting 1) placing me in cell 3 (flywheel housing) I then could not take standing for long periods of time, so I went home. The other employees were very unprofessional.
      They took my chair. My trainer was a kid. Vaping on the x line. Lots of other problems. I would never take that job again. They used me. Plus I didn’t feel save. I don’t think they do background checks. I have a diploma for diesel mechanics. Messed up, I still got treated like a kid!! I’m sure they lost lots of good employees!!!!

      Reply
    8. Johnny Stone Avatar
      Johnny Stone

      It’s a shame that Cummins doesn’t care about its employees. The reason that they are always hiring has nothing to do with the pay it has to do with the garbage hours. How can anyone have any type of halfway normal life working on an assembly line from 6am – 5:30pm or 6:00pm – 5:30am? The answer is you can’t. Not to mention if you have a child in a sport or other activity I guess you miss that. Theres not even the weekend because they want your blood then also. You have to pick your poison there. The machining lines work 8 hour shifts but usually have to work 13 days on and 1 day off. It would really suck if you were a noncustodial parent and only were able to see your kids on the weekends. How do you spin that so the kids don’t grow up hating you? The area of the plant where the manual labor is done is not climate controlled. The areas where people work at their desks 5 days a week and 40 hours per day get plenty of air conditioning. You have to jump through hoops to get a Saturday off there. They make you take a vacation day on Friday that you may not need off in order to get a Saturday off. That’s after working 40 hours plus already in a week. They worry more about selling GayPride hoodies and tshirts rather than the betterment of the employee life. Now they are hiring people who cannot speak the English language. Normally I wouldn’t have a problem with that but everything is printed in English. So basically you have people that can’t speak, read, or write English building engines there. In a nutshell the place is the modern day slave driver paradise and the employees should ban together and put the companies back against the wall instead of letting the company bending the employees over.

      Reply
    9. Kim Avatar
      Kim

      It’s no wonder employees walked off the line..they don’t get paid that much (my husband) gets paid 18.50/he and they have adds up for positions starting at 22.50/hr..maybe instead of paying that much for new hires you should pay the ones more that they have just saying

      Reply
    10. Candice Rader Avatar
      Candice Rader

      Why has no one ever gone to Labor Department or at least filed an EEOC complaint of hostile work environment???
      Employees need to follow up on their rights!

      Reply
    11. Me Avatar
      Me

      This “article” is truly upsetting and not because Cummins is a horrible place to work like many of these comments may lead you to believe, but because of its absolute trash narrative it’s trying to portray. And these comments? Mostly from people (aka Chris and Donny) who have been fired from the company. Yeah of course they are going to have a 5 star review for Cummins.

      People- do me a favor. Before you go and put merit into some of this trash talk understand a few things. 1. No one and I mean no one is forcing anyone to work there. The hours and potential Saturdays are disclosed to every single person who walks in that door. It’s not a secret by any means. People choose to sign on knowing the potential for mandatory overtime. 2. The working conditions are not deplorable. The work content has been minimized so much to make it easy for pretty much everyone. Yeah ok you have to be able to stand for a long period of time. Um, sorry? Do you think construction workers get a chair outside in the 90 degree heat? No. If you can’t handle standing, go work a job you can sit all day. Besides the countless safety measures that are put in place to try and protect you. As long as they are followed, you can pretty much guarantee you will go home every day the way you came in. Other manufacturers could give a crap less and so the bare minimum to try and protect people. 3. Yeah the pay thing is a discrepancy but leadership has made it very clear they plan to make it right. Companies make mistakes and you will find many of them don’t give a flying crap about it and will tell their employees to suck it up. Instead, they owned it and want to fix it. Before you decide to trash talk, maybe give them a friggin chance to do so. 4. When corporate finds out the community is rejecting this plant, best believe they will move it out of Jamestown. And you think 1400 people plus the countless contractors who do work there losing their salaries won’t have an impact on the community? Not to mention the countless dollars that have not only been donated by the company but it’s employees being lost in the area. 5. If you want to walk out, then do it. No one is telling you that you can’t. But stop ruining it for the people who want to be there. Yeah you worked there in the 90s? Good for you. Like companies haven’t changed in 30 years. I see some manufacturers still only paying $15 an hour to work. If Tim hortons and McDonald’s are so much better, then go work there! Nothing is stopping you.

      The way this community is reacting to this is truly absurd and entitled. I have been working at this company for over 10 years and have been afforded many opportunities to grow and put food on my families table. I have chosen to stay because I believe it in and will continue to do so even after its own people continue to slam it even though they have every right to cut their ties and move on. If you don’t like it, LEAVE! Would be better off without your negativity there anyway.

      P.S Chris- don’t act like you are pro employee now after you were canned for treatment of others.

      Reply
    12. Jody Avatar
      Jody

      Well let’s talk about treatment of others , I was not nor ever will be an employee of this ” company ” . As a person who is a family member of an ex employee, I can tell you they are horrible to their workers .My brother had a very bad heart attack and had to have bypass surgery and instead of being compassionate the company told him to get back to work before 5 weeks had passed from having the surgery. Which created more health problems and added stress he didn’t need . So if you want to kiss ass and make yourself look good to the upper management feel free . The rest of us will watch and see how that works for you when you need compassion and understanding after your body craps out from all the rest you get working years of ungodly hours and no time off.

      Reply
    13. Josh Avatar
      Josh

      I currently work at Cummins, and can tell you that most of these comments are true. Do we work 26 days out of the month? Hardly ever. However, claiming that the hours and potential Saturdays are disclosed to everyone walking through the door is false. Many people leave their previous jobs to come work here and don’t find out ALL the details about our work schedule until after they have already started their orientation. We spend 11.5 hours a day on concrete, so yes we do get sore feet. Up until recently there were a decent amount of chairs to sit in when we were not working to be able to rest. However management decided that too many people were sitting down and getting on their phones when there was down time. Instead of addressing the people that are the main problem with this issue, they remove the majority of chairs from working areas punishing everyone. Leadership has been ANYTHING but clear about correcting the pay issue. They held an hour long meeting Wednesday evening where we were told that they had no answers for us. They’d like to have another meeting this coming Thursday, but can’t guarantee they will have answers for us then either. In the meantime more people walk out the door tired of broken promises. If you dont believe us, you can ask the few hundred people that have come through this place in the last couple years (no exaggeration). Well over 90% of the people that get hired leave in less than a year. “Me” is likely a member of management enjoying a comfy chair in an air conditioned office. Hopefully that chair can go with them down to the tow line when they are assembling engines as people find other jobs like they tell us to. I won’t be sticking around to find out

      Reply
    14. Carl Marx Avatar
      Carl Marx

      All these people crying about how awful it was to work there and got fired are half the reason for working long hours. Just put your parts on the engine and shut up. It’s a good paying job for the area and no one is forcing anyone to stay there. Puy your big boy pants and work.

      Reply
    15. Randall Scott Avatar
      Randall Scott

      Fuck you Carl Marx.

      Reply
    16. Ex employee Avatar
      Ex employee

      As an ex employee and the partner of a current employee I can say a couple things. Yes, some of the working conditions are terrible. If you walk off the assembly line back into test and final parts you might understand more. I’ve worked in all assembly areas and test is by far the worst. Very disgusting might I add too (if you know what I’m referring to). The hours do suck! Especially for families and I think that’s the biggest point people are trying to get at. They want the job, but want their lives too. People have been begging for that for years. You walk in expecting Monday through Friday till Friday night when they say you have to work Saturday and Sunday. No warning either. HR has created an atmosphere that allows their little minions to get away with murder. So many times (I’ve seen first hand), the wrong person takes the blame. Or they value those who do zero work versus all the work. They’ve often taken the trouble people and rewarded them. I know of managers that are complete bullies there. They lie to their superiors to make themselves look good then turn around and make their star employees feel like complete trash. Telling them things a manager should never say.

      Now how about we talk about other issues such as health insurance. Cummins used to have the best insurance in the area. Now it’s god awful!!! We now have dental that is accepted almost no where in western NY. There are zero plans to improve or change this. The pay is an issue too. When people who have put in close to 10 years of service are now making less than those who just got hired on assembly. They’ve continued to raise their pay for assembly/new hires, but do nothing for their loyal employees. My guess, they never will.

      There are some things that can be improved to keep and retain employees but they will never listen. Improve your hours to set hours. Set a better plan for build plans. A steady plan. Not something that continuously jumps up and down. Most of your customers leave their engines sitting in trailers for months on end anyways. Especially since most of them right now can’t get parts to build their trucks. Make a second shift. Allow people to be people again and enjoy each other’s company. Stop allowing these minions take charge of everything. Bring in managers that are leaders not “bosses”. There’s a strong lack of leadership through the levels of management. Lastly, bring back the old variable comp! The people deserve it.

      Positive changes can be made if you just take a look at the people and understand what all they sacrifice.

      Reply
    17. SP Avatar
      SP

      “Me” is most certainly a member in management trying to do damage control because in fact these comments from ex and current employees all say the same thing. Sir, you’re not fooling anyone. Maybe that “Me” person should leave their air conditioned office and join the rack on 3rd shift for their 13 on, 1 day off and tell us how valued as an employee they feel. To the other guy saying you rarely work 26 days out of the month must be on day shift. My husband works 3rd and I can tell you for a fact, working 26 days out of the month is the norm. Saturdays only unless they are punished and forced to do the 13 on, 1 off. Speaking of, These workers are killing themselves nightly and being “punished” if goal isn’t met due to the line being down constantly.

      The timing of this article coming out right before the 50th anniversary bash and open house is very interesting. Can’t wait to see the money they spent when they could be giving it to their employees who make pennies compared to what they should be making.

      Other (non powerhouse) manufacturing plants in the area are paying their workers more than Cummins. They start $20+ yet Cummins is paying these people $17+ thru Elwood and still under $20 with differentials for level 2 employees AFTER their contract with Elwood, yet now are giving direct hires off the street $22.75 starting and making the current employees train them. HOW INSULTING. Yet their meeting about this have shown no real plans to make it right.

      Something needs to change and it needs to happen NOW.

      Reply
    18. Cummins team Avatar
      Cummins team

      Cummins is widely recognized as a leading company in its field. The complaints from some individuals often stem from a preference for minimal effort while expecting compensation. The company provides ample vacation time for employees to address personal needs, yet some exhaust their allotted time and subsequently express dissatisfaction when unforeseen events occur in their lives.

      Reply
    19. QP Avatar
      QP

      @Cummins team,

      HOW DISGUSTING THAT YOU THINK EMPLOYEES COMPLAINING ABOUT SEEING THEIR FAMILIES 4 DAYS OUT OF THE MONTH STEMS FROM MINIMAL EFFORT.

      Reply
    20. Thomas Baxter Avatar
      Thomas Baxter

      Theyll burn out everyone in the surrounding 100miles willing to work for them before they decide too pack up shop and move the rest of the plant to Mexico and pat themselves on the back and say look what a great job we did

      Reply
    21. Lynda Avatar
      Lynda

      RMEP is not a union plant. Not all Cummins facilities are union. Also RMEP make less wages than Jamestown

      Reply
      1. Johnny Stone Avatar
        Johnny Stone

        The cost of living in Rocky Mount, North Carolina is much lower also. If you look at employment in general the south pays less than the north. Minimum wage in NC is still $7.25 per hour so if you start a job at $15 an hour it looks pretty good in NC.

        Reply
    22. Clessie Cummins Avatar
      Clessie Cummins

      All I hear is a bunch of bitches afraid of work! It’s better than nothing. Woke ass babies!

      Reply
    23. Concerned employee Avatar
      Concerned employee

      As a current Cummins employee the response from the Cummins Team hopefully was not from a legitimate source! I have worked on the assembly line and raised 3 children many years as a single parent . I missed many activities because of the long hours we had to work and the inability to plan your vacation time around the unknown cummins work schedule, because only so many people can be off in each area . You are told you will have the weekend off and then they take it away . The line is running great and it looks like you will be done by 4 so you don’t ask for a backfill then something goes wrong and instead of deducting engines for the down time like they use to they just make you work until 5:30 or 6.So you miss your child’s game or have to call around and find someone to pick up your children ( this is almost a daily thing.)
      The communication has disappeared and the team concept is gone as well as the pride in being a Cummins employee! People use to fight to get in the doors to work here now you have to watch for a stampede when you leave !
      There are many positives to Cummins and alot of opportunities for the employees and they do alot for the community! I just think they need to listen to the people and give them the pay they deserve more communication and consistent hours so they have the time with their families while still building quality engines for the company .

      Reply
    24. Cummins Espouses Appreciation For Employees Amid Mounting Allegations – WNY News Now

      […] In light of allegations of mass discontent amongst Cummins employees and large walkouts, Cummins Director of External Communications, Jon Mills, reached out to WNY News Now last night, where he supplied the following statement on behalf of Cummins: […]

      Reply
    25. President Trump Avatar
      President Trump

      Make people human again!

      Reply
    26. The Summer of Our Discontent: More Cummins Workers Speak Out – WNY News Now

      […] Following allegations of mass walkouts among its assembly line workers, more Cummins workers have reached out to WNY News Now on the condition of anonymity to shed light on their experiences with the company. All information shared are allegations and should not be considered objective fact. […]

      Reply
    27. Brian Avatar
      Brian

      I worked at Cummins JEP for 2 years. I left for a carer better suited in my career interests. I truly enjoyed my time with this company. The amount of mandatory overtime sucks but there is nobody stopping you from walking away and finding something else. Sure there is stuff the company could change but change takes time and they need the support of their employees. Nobody mentions the amount of growth available within the company. Many positions don’t require college. Just on the job training. Growth is possible there. Just like anywhere. You have to start from nothing and make something of yourself to get where you want.

      If this company didn’t care about their employees. They wouldn’t constantly be updating and changing their methods to do a job to make it easier for employees.

      The amount of overtime should be reduced and there are many things JEP could do but doesn’t do to assist their employees. Examples are like add 3 shifts, better pay, more vacation, and have overtime optional. I understand they have production goals but all this crazy mandatory overtime employees can cause employees to mess up parts of engines which then reflect negatively on the company.

      Bottom line is the company should take the concerns more serious and meet the employees half way. Happy employees means people will do their best.

      Reply
    28. youre overpaid and underworked Avatar
      youre overpaid and underworked

      find new jobs🤷‍♂️ half of you are substantially paid higher than any other job you will get in the area for a very minimally skilled job. they cut the hours yall will be complaining about how you can’t afford to live anymore. the 22.38 an hour is for new hires that are supposed to meet certain requirements. the new hiring process doesn’t always make that 100% guaranteed because “head hunters” are only looking for their pay also. I can go on and on the assembly line has worked one Sunday all year 90% of your Saturdays have been out by noon on top of that. covid really ruined a lot and made you all babies. we used to run 13 man cells with 4 people and still get everything done in a reasonable time and leave the place safely but the fact you guys lack common sense and a drive to do your jobs correctly bc you “aren’t paid enough”. where you going to go guys? skf? they hire once a year. Purina? yea the typical line worker still makes less than 20$ an hour and the hours are no better but the schedule is all jacked. titanX? yea have fun with that🤣 monofrax? 3/4 of you wouldn’t make it a weak if cummins is “hot” and “dirty” the forge? will break yalls whiney asses. bush? welches? less money same hours.

      Reply
    29. Realist Avatar
      Realist

      You can tell how toxic of a place it is to work at by the responses from “me” and others just saying “suck it up and be a good slave” Corporate greed at its finest. Hope they do pull out of the community so a decent employer can come in that treats their employees like human beings.

      Reply
    30. Think About It Avatar
      Think About It

      Dear Realist,

      Do you realize how many people will be impacted if Cummins did “pull out”? Not only will it leave at least 800 people that are currently employed at Cummins unemployed, it will also impact numerous small businesses in the area. Places like Ideal Coating, IWF, Ahlstrom, and many more that also do a lot of contracting inside the facility. Not to mention all the people directly impacted will also need to cut back on extra expenses such as dining out. Have you drove around Jamestown much, look at all the past factories that are empty and crumbling. This area is not sought out by any sustaining long term companies.

      I am not, nor have I ever been a member of management. I am an employee who started with a temp agency and chose to stay for over 5 years, even though the hours can be a bit much. Do I agree that the hours/shifts should be looked at, YES. But I also understand business, economics and our community. I also know that I have a 401k, pension, insurance, vacation, sick time and can provide for my family because of Cummins. I also know there is a bonus each year, which by the way NOT all factories or businesses offer around here. I know if an employee wants to go to college, there is a tuition reimbursement program, there is a skills trades program, a health office in the facility, a gym, and numerous other FREE services to employees and their family.

      There is no such thing as a perfect work place. There is good and bad in EVERYTHING, but we all have choices. If an employee leaves due to the hours, I understand. It is hard, it does take a toll and I have seen some great people leave because of it.

      I ask that instead of “hoping” for this company to “pull out”, you pray that a solution is found to reduce the hours while still remaining a strong company and pray that wages remain good for current and future employees.

      Sincerely,

      Think about it

      Reply
    31. Annonymous Avatar
      Annonymous

      So, instead of fixing what’s fundamentally wrong with a work/ life balance we fear monger. Cummins does this every year, during the spring/ summer.. all the hours of mandatory over time, working every other weekend. No time during the nice weather to enjoy it or your family. Not as a laborer. Where as mgmt is home enjoying the day or sitting in the air conditioned office. It makes people miserable. Next, by fixing things to have a better home/ work balance is not going to cause Cummins to move. We’re talking billions of dollars to move a plant like that. So instead of burning out the labor pool, fix what’s causing it. I went to a plant that’s union and used a DuPont schedule. We all love it. We have 12 hour days, but it’s never more than 4 days straight. A mix of nights and days. We work 14 out of 21 days and then 7 days off. Rotating 4 week schedule. Makes for a great balance

      Reply
    32. Stevie wonder Avatar
      Stevie wonder

      As a former employee, I’m proud people actually took action. That place is a joke. Our manager (phil) actively showed favoritism to a female employee. Believed everything she said, that even led to people being fired. It was known across the whole line. He was investigated, his entire demeanor changed for a while then it was back to business as usual. A guy who never worked on the line, making the hours and dictating everything. Oh then the fact that during covid they actively pushed older employees into retirement. Not to mention like others have said the hours and days off plus pay is bs. The ppl who are still there are either older, or have their sights set elsewhere and biding their time. Their new pay scale is bullshit. People that work twice as hard don’t get recognized meanwhile the apple polishing snitches get paid more for doing less. I just wish I hadn’t quit before the walkout. I would of applauded them as they walked out.

      Reply
    33. Knows Better Then Work At Cummins!!! Avatar
      Knows Better Then Work At Cummins!!!

      I was thinking about getting a job here but after reading what a hell-hole it is their is no way in hell I’ll even bother applying as their are plenty of jobs elsewhere right now where the companies not treating treating Americans like ignorant Mexicans! Get the hell out of town if you can’t act human to Chautauqua County Residents!!!

      Reply
    34. Big John Avatar
      Big John

      As a former Manager, Trainer, Fork Truck Driver, Etc. for many years I’ve experienced the true plant work environment. Unfortunately over the years I’ve seen good management retire and crap management take its place, but the employees need to share the blame in this also as they greatly impact the culture with their negativity and foul treatment of their own cell mates and other coworkers. I could go on to name numerous infected people still there. The whole company needs a restructuring from the president of the company down to the employees.

      Reply
    35. What to Do When You Face Unfair Treatment at Work – WNY News Now

      […] you suspect unfair treatment, it’s essential to begin documenting the incidents. Keep a detailed record of dates, times, […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Trending

    Discover more from WNY News Now

    Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

    Continue reading