Gov. Jennifer Granholm drew some criticism and plenty of applause Sunday when she met with about 1,600 former Electrolux workers for lunch and small talk at Klackle Orchard’s pavilion in Greenville.
Most of those at the picnic, a final farewell for United Auto Workers members at the former appliance plant, thanked Granholm for her efforts to save the company’s 2,700 jobs. But a small group of about 10 people booed her, yelling “go home.”
Talking from the podium, Dan Pellow, bargaining chairman for UAW Local 137, defended the governor, who he said fought with union leaders in negotiations with Electrolux.
“It was great to have somebody who cared,” he told fellow union members. “This lady cares about Michigan. She’s a friend to all of us”
Many agreed.
Gary White, 55, worked for Electrolux for 32 years before the plant closed in March. He has not found another job.
“Others, they just give you a lot of lip (service). She’s shown all along she wants to do things right for the state,” he said.
Theresa Bozung, 44, said the critics were just plain rude.
“That was uncalled for,” she said of the calls for Granholm to leave. “She’s had a lot of work made out for her. It can’t all be done in one night.”
Granholm dismissed her critics, saying many employees didn’t recognize efforts to keep Electrolux in town or the effects trade agreements can have in the local economy.
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