There have been many articles and even books written on what happened
after General Motors closed its plant in Janesville, Wisconsin in 2008
after some 90 years of operation. Here, for the first time, former
Wisconsin state senator--and Janesville native--Tim Cullen tells the
inside story of how and why it happened, and what it means for the
future not only of Janesville, but cities across America.
Cullen, who co-chaired the governor's task force that tried to save the
Janesville plant, provides a sweeping history of the plant from its boom
years to the abyss, while noting the struggles African Americans and
women faced in getting hired and treated fairly. Along the way he finds
some heroes, including an early African American GM employee; a woman
who insisted on gender equity in the plant; and Walter Reuther,
the legendary labor leader.
Perhaps no one is better qualified than Tim Cullen to tell this
important story. Tim worked in the Janesville GM plant as a college
student and
he was there, decades on, when presidential candidate Barack Obama told
a hopeful gathering of GM employees and other stakeholders he
would do what he could to ensure its success. Less than a year later,
the plant closed. In Disassembled, Tim Cullen reveals what happened.