Chrysler Fires Auto Plant Workers Seen in Fox 2 Video

myFOXDetroit.com Staff - Plant workers at the Chrysler Jefferson North Assembly plant in Detroit have lost  their jobs after a video showing some of them drinking during their lunch break was aired on Fox 2 News.

Fox 2 Investigative Reporter Rob Wolchek's story was first broadcast on Wednesday night.  In the report, video clearly shows workers drinking beer and smoking what appeared to be marijuana.

The video instantly went viral on the internet, getting seen by millions of people across the country.  It became the subject of local Detroit talk radio shows and quickly grew into a national story, getting air-time on most mainstream news networks.

Watch the original report of the Jefferson North Plant workers on their lunchbreak. click here .

Today Chrysler announced that 13 of the 15 people identified in the video have been discharged.  Two employees have been laid-off wtihout pay for a period of one month.

Chrysler has issued the following statement:

Response to Query: Chrysler Group Closes Jefferson North Employee Cases

Chrysler Group Closes Jefferson North Employee Cases Chrysler Group has completed its investigation of the Jefferson North employees recently suspended for inappropriate conduct during their lunch period. It has been determined that 13 employees engaged in behavior that violated the Company’s Standards of Conduct and these 13 employees were discharged today. Two remaining employees will receive a one month disciplinary layoff without pay.

As is evidenced by the swift action taken in this matter, it should be clear that Chrysler Group will not tolerate such behavior and will continue to evaluate its protocols to ensure that something like this does not happen again.

Our customers can be assured that the Jefferson North Assembly Plant has implemented a comprehensive quality system for all of the vehicles it builds. This system has redundant controls that do not allow a single person's error to result in a quality problem flowing to the customer. In fact, early warranty results indicate that the quality performance from the launch of the new Grand Cherokee may be the best launch in the history of Chrysler for vehicle reliability.

It is unfortunate that the actions of a few people have called into question the reputation of more than 51,000 very proud, hard-working Chrysler Group employees, grateful that the American and Canadian taxpayers gave us a second chance. We take that responsibility very seriously and will work to restore the public's faith.

Following are the two items within our Standards of Conduct policy that might apply to this situation. Both could be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including suspension or discharge.

Use, possession, distribution, sale or offering for sale, or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs (other than use or possession of narcotics in medicines prescribed by the employee's physician), on Corporation property, or while operating a Corporation owned motor vehicle, or while engaged in Corporate business.

Unacceptable conduct due to alcohol or drug abuse (other than use or possession of narcotics in medicines prescribed by the employee's physician), or conduct that indicates a potential for impaired or unsafe job performance due to drug or alcohol abuse.