Valpo Plant Closure Delayed
(photo courtesy of The Times of Northwest Indiana)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA more than 100-year-old manufacturing plant in Valparaiso is preparing to close, though later than originally planned. Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report workers at the facility, operated by Wisconsin-based Regal Beloit Corp. (NYSE: RBC), were informed operations are likely to continue until the end of July.
Plans to close the plant were first announced in August 2019 as workers were on strike to protest low wages and increasing out-of-pocket health insurance costs. The strike ended shortly thereafter in an effort to improve collective bargaining talks between the company and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 2019.
However, those talks failed and the two parties announced an agreement the following October to close the plant, leaving nearly 170 employees out of work. Last September, Regal Beloit filed a WARN Notice with the state, announcing the plant would close on May 31, however that date has now been pushed back.
“When we announced plans to close our location in Valparaiso, we indicated that we anticipate the transition will happen gradually with an expected completion during 2021. We have no further update at this time,” Robert Barry, vice president of investor relations for Regal Beloit, said in a statement to the publication.
The Times reports the decision to delay the closing is due to Regal Beloit’s efforts to consolidate operations at a non-union plant in Monticello.
The facility produces bearings for a variety of civilian and military aircraft, including the Apache Block III attack helicopter, the V-22 Ospreay, and the F-35 Lightning fighter jet. The publication says six groups have recently toured the plant, though there is no indication of another company acquiring the facility with plans to reopen it.
You can view the full story, including comments from longtime workers at the plant, from The Times of Northwest Indiana by clicking here.