RV workers react to congressional hearing on toxic trailers

by Leanne Tokars (ltokars@wsbt.com)

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Gulf Stream Coach manufactured thousands of trailers for FEMA in the town of Etna Green in Kosciusko County

Gulf Stream Coach manufactured thousands of trailers for FEMA in the town of Etna Green in Kosciusko County. (WSBT file photo)

By WSBT News1

ETNA GREEN — It's the blame game on Capitol Hill and here at home over who's responsible for 'toxic trailers.'

The Centers for Disease Control says it found the highest levels of formaldehyde in trailers built by Indiana companies.

Officials from Gulf Stream Coach in Nappanee, Elkhart based Forest River, Keystone RV of Goshen and Pilgrim International of Middlebury are testifying this week.

Members of the House Oversight and Government Committee grilled Gulf Stream's president Wednesday.

Elkhart County Congressman Mark Souder was one of them. He says the manufacturers shouldn't take all the blame and FEMA should have played a bigger part in testing.

Company officials said they rushed to meet a desperate need for trailers after Katrina, but still maintained high quality.

They say before the storm and still today, there were no government standards on formaldehyde levels in trailers.

Some of the local RV workers who helped make those FEMA trailers are speaking out.

Gulf Stream Coach manufactured thousands of trailers in the small town of Etna Green in Kosciusko County.

One former worker told WSBT it was quantity over quality. Others say the company knew it had a problem with formaldehyde.

But most people we talked with in Etna Green say the RV companies are not the ones to blame.

It wasn’t uncommon to see FEMA trailers being transported on the streets of Etna Green.

“It gave so many people employment, it really did,” commented Elaine Fletcher, whose son worked at Gulf Stream Coach.

After the hurricanes hit, Gulf Stream Coach got the largest trailer contract — more than $500 million to supply 50,000 trailers as soon as possible.

Many people remember.

“They push them — you gotta get it out, you gotta get this many out, you gotta do this, you gotta do that,” remembered Paulette Chappell. “They don't even give them time to do to their job."

Oliver Cretcher worked at a company that provided materials to the RV companies.

“They were more quantity over quality at the time,” said Cretcher.

But is that to blame for the toxic formaldehyde levels?

Current and former employees at Gulf Stream told CBS News the company knew it had a problem.

“FEMA would show up around 9 or 10 in the morning to do their inspections,” said former employee Linda Esparza. “About a couple hours before they came out to do their inspection, we were instructed to open the doors and windows so the odor wouldn't be as strong when the inspectors got there."

But most people we talked with blamed FEMA, not Gulf Stream Coach.

“The houses were meant to be temporary,” exclaimed Cretcher. “They're not meant to be lived in for 3, 4, 5 years."

And in Etna Green, there's some concern now about what the FEMA trailer hearings could lead to.

“It didn't just help our community; it helped everybody, and we need these trailer companies to stay open. I don't know what's going to happen if they close,” said Fletcher.

Two former Gulf Stream Coach employees including Linda Esparza told CBS News that the formaldehyde levels also impacted their health and others at the plant.

It surprised a lot of people in Etna Green. Everyone who talked with WSBT said they never heard of any employees getting sick because of the formaldehyde.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 12:28 AM ex Gulf Stream employee wrote ...

I think everyone that built the fema's and risk there lives, should get something..Us people that was building them and the so called boss's just watching from a window made more just sitting on there fat butt's and the hitch pay of what went out the door. i made good money there don't get me wrong..but some how there was others getting paid alot more then what they should of gotten..when im putting the same amount out as others and there getting paid more then me.. i see a BIG PROBLEM

Thursday, Jul 17 at 2:03 PM pat dixon wrote ...

I have to drive 1000 miles from Biloxi Ms. to Elkhart for Monaco experts to look at.It will cost me at least 1000.00 Ipaid 54,000 for a Holiday Rambler Presidential ,it came off the line Dec.14,2005,the same time the Fema trailers were being made. This trailer was made on a rusted frame,I can go from top to bottom and back to front .Over 50 things wrong including 3 appliances caught on fire. please call with any info Pat Dixon 337 739 0745 Thank you

Friday, Jul 11 at 5:21 PM T Gaskill wrote ...

Have to add that workers at Monaco also had to work twice as hard when doing the Fema units. They doubled the work load and made it sound like the workers were doing a great deed. The workers did not make anymore money when doing them, just the higher ups did. Also Monaco line employees really didn't make all that much unless you worked overtime and only ones that did that were usually final finish, repair men and the paint department. They were really the only ones making close to $60,000/year

Friday, Jul 11 at 5:12 PM T Gaskill wrote ...

Actually it's the gas prices that killing the RV industry, Wednesday, Jul 9 at 10:51 PM Truth.

Friday, Jul 11 at 4:24 AM Coachmen Camper wrote ...

I have a Coachmen travel trailer. I had to bake my camper by leaving all the windows shut and turning the furnace on high for 24 hours. All which was done in the middle of summer. It worked. The formaldehyde smell left. Before I did it, it was unbearable to be in it. Itchy eyes, throat and upset stomach. Not fun, not fun at all.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 11:20 PM April wrote ...

For the two EX- Gulf Stream employees you why didnt you complain when you was cashing that 1000.00 weekly check from those FEMA units? I liked the fast pace we had to work at thats why is called work!! My plant ran 115 units a day! We had alot of people in our building I didnt see anyone getting sick like everbody is saying! I still work for Gulf-Stream/Fairmont! So stop complaing about the company!! Its not their fault you cant hold a job!!

Thursday, Jul 10 at 6:57 PM FORMER EMPLOYEE wrote ...

I WORKED FOR FORESTRIVER FOR 7 YEARS. THROUGH ALL THE GOOD AND BAD. WE ALL NO THAT THESE COMPANYS PAID GOOD MONEY TO LINE WORKERS. BUT NOW THE MONEY HAS RAN OUT. ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE STEPPING UP. HMMMMM! I WONDER HOW THAY ARE GONNA FEED THERE FAMILYS WHEN THAY HELP SHUT DOWN THESE COMPANYS.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 4:45 PM Frank wrote ...

First Congress condemmed FEMA for acting too sowly now they are condemming FEMA for acting too fast. Which is it?

Thursday, Jul 10 at 1:11 PM Frank wrote ...

Companies that rip off the government and therefore the taxpayers, and endanger lives should be put out of business and employees forced to lose jobs.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 12:27 PM Jurrif wrote ...

Sounds like a few employees see a nice big law suit if they can convince the congress.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 12:12 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I guess if the democrats want to put that many companies out of business and that many people permanently out of work, we can't stop them. They control congress.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 7:02 AM Steve wrote ...

Have everyone who's lived in one form a class action lawsuit and sue the heck out of the manufacturers. When FEMA placed the order, they just saw $$$$$. Another instance of companies ripping off the federal government.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 6:06 AM Longtime Camper wrote ...

Wow... I Don't work in the RV Industry. I am surprised that products clearly marked "formaldehyde" would be used for FEMA or NON-FEMA trailers. My family has camped for years. My husband and I spent 6 months in our trailer while we where building our house and had no idea we where in any kind of danger of sickness. This seems so irresponsible of the RV manufacturer to use this product.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 3:35 AM ghost wrote ...

I was once a shower tub repairman for a major company. Once the unit is sitting in the hot weather, the smell gets to a point that you must wear a toxic mask. Those Fema's were slapped together at record speed to help those who needed a home. Now, the ones who busted their chops to get them done are getting sued. Sue the makers of materials!!

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 11:27 PM stu wrote ...

my brother worked on the fema units he said one coworker vomited in the floor and just covered it up the line leaders and plant managers received hitch pay for every unit that went out the door on top of their regular pay the employees on the line are not to blame it is the management they do not care about quality or the worker just the quanity in the shortest time period because it is more money in their pocket people would be surprised how cheaply and sloppy the rvs are put together

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 11:15 PM sam wrote ...

plant managers in etna green made 300,000 in bonuses from these fema units

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 10:02 PM Goshen wrote ...

If it met gov. spec's at the time, there is nothing wrong here, and these hearings are just more BS about how Bush did after the storm hit. Politics as normal: make up the rules afterwards to meet your political goals, and never mind the fact your chopping off heads of innocent people.... Get these guys out of office!

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 9:51 PM Truth wrote ...

Gaskill, Nothing gets in the way of making a buck? Go to Home depot or Menards and take a look at the wall boards and paneling for sale there! Or the carpet! It all has formaldehyde in it. Don't pass judgment unless you have all the facts. You people are going to kill the Rv industry and the 100,000 plus jobs created by it in this area due to your witch hunt.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 9:18 PM T Gaskill wrote ...

I'm sure all manufacturers knew about the formaldehyde. The paneling that Monaco Coach used at least until late January of this year is stamped saying it has formaldehyde in the product. It's also imported from another country. Nothing gets in the way of making a buck I guess.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 9:11 PM The Truth shall set you free wrote ...

I've been in the RV industry for over 20 years, including Gulf Stream. You CANNOT smell any formaldehyde during production. It is heat that brings out the smell, and only in small, contained areas (like a travel trailer) will it build up to a point where it is an irritant. The plant workers on the news are going to be on the hot seat next. Don't hand the RV companies for something that's been used for 30-40 plus years. This issue is all about politics. Formaldehyde smell is in new cars!!!!!

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 8:06 PM Anonymous wrote ...

What is Donnelly's stand on this?

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 7:16 PM chris wrote ...

what about all the workers from the newer of the two plants in etna green that were always sick due to the materials being used. when is that lawsuit coming?

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 7:09 PM Anonymous wrote ...

its not the trailer makers they should be after its the makers of the plywood and paneling!it is marked on the back of most paneling that this product contains formaldehyde!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 7:04 PM steve wrote ...

these trailers are better houses then most people lived in down in the states that kartina hit

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 6:04 PM mariah wrote ...

I worked at the Gulf Stream Plant in Etna Green on and off for two years. Yes I will admit that there were many corners cut when it came down to it. But not one time did I ever smell formaldehyde. I worked in two different positions in that plant and never smelled it. It was a good job with good pay. Yeah the bosses were quick to get the trailers out and were rude about it. But we did our job and hey it passed through inspections didnt it?

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 5:50 PM rick wrote ...

oh like the manufacturers didn't know nothing about anything. get real.

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