By Tribune-Review

Published: Friday, October 5, 2012, 9:18 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Subsidies & unions

The letter “Making the same mistakes” (Oct. 1) didn't give the full story as to the taxpayer-subsidized factory site near New Stanton.

Chrysler was be to the original occupant, but never opened the plant. The succeeding tenants, Volkswagen and Sony, shut down after their tax subsidies ended. But both companies became unionized, were forced to pay much higher wages and saw their operations become unprofitable.

If Aquion, which is planning to take over the plant, is unionized and forced to pay wages that make it unprofitable, it too will leave.

Note that Volkswagen moved eventually to Tennessee, a right-to-work state. The company may have gotten tax subsidies there also.

The unions in the Pittsburgh area make it difficult to attract business.

Robert Ramser

New Kensington

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