‘Merry Christmas, Jay’ among 1,500 workers laid off by Sumitomo Rubber

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — “Merry Christmas, Jay,” the man who saved over 24 people during Buffalo’s deadly Christmas blizzard in 2022, is one of over 1,500 employees who were recently laid off by Sumitomo Rubber.

The company announced the plant’s closure last week and said it’s primarily due to overall facility performance and that the plant has been losing hundreds of millions of dollars.

Jay Withey is considered a hero among many in Western New York when he broke into a school to help others take shelter for more than 24 hours during the storm. He left a letter to the staff penned, “Merry Christmas, Jay.”

He said being without a job right now makes him feel anything but heroic.

Sumitomo Rubber announces Tonawanda plant closure, over 1,500 employees affected

“It is devastating to lose your job,” Withey said. “I wasn’t here for an extended period of time, but to start over anywhere is just awful.”

At Sumitomo Rubber, Withey was a breakdown mechanic and repaired the factory machines as needed — that was before what he called “blindsiding” news after managers gave everyone a paid week off to allegedly “get rid of overstocked tires.”

“For us to come back after that week to armed security and barricades all over the entrances and even still, no one had any notice until 12:15 that afternoon that they sent out a text message saying that they’ve closed doors,” Withey said.

Withey worked at the factory with his cousin, but he said every worker was family to him.

‘Merry Christmas, Jay’ reflects on ’22 blizzard one year later

“Buffalo is a city of good neighbors, we’re all family. If this was a Buffalo-owned business, it would never go down this road,” Withey said. “We’re owned by Japanese. They preach honor and integrity, it’s so deeply rooted in their culture. For this to happen. Where’s the honor? Where’s the integrity?”

On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul called the move by Sumitomo a “kick in the teeth” to Western New York.

“They did not telegraph this earlier. They did not say, ‘If you could do this for us, we’ll stay,’ but it was presented to us as a very firm decision,” Hochul said.

Hochul also said severance packages for employees are in the works and that the New York State Department of Labor is helping workers find new jobs.

“I am very concerned about every one of those workers,” Hochul said. “They do what they’re asked to do. They showed up at their jobs every single day. Those are hardworking people and we’re going to help them get jobs.”

Rally held for Sumitomo Rubber employees as they head to unemployment

“Buffalo businesses opening up their doors like Basil and other businesses, and Kathy Hochul putting in something for us to try to open up more jobs — how does that not speak volumes?” Withey said.

Withey said he has had no luck with applications yet, most likely due to the quick influx of colleagues looking for work.

Sumitomo will be paying workers up to 60 days after the shutdown.

The New York State Department of Labor is hosting a job fair for those impacted by the closure from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Lincoln Park Athletic Complex, 1200 Parker Boulevard.

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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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