WEATHER SHIELD CLOSING GREENWOOD PLANT
Thursday, April 30th, 2009 -- 2:20 PM
Greenwood?s Weather Shield plant will be phased out beginning in July leaving nearly 200 workers with major decisions to make. It will be closed by the end of the third quarter.The company says it?s offering workers jobs at their Mosinee facility, but it?s unclear if they?ll keep their seniority, wages and vacation.
The Medford-based window and door manufacturer says the move is a result of the poor economy, but also in anticipation of eventual increased demand.
All affected employees will be offered positions at the larger facility in Mosinee, the company says.
"We anticipate a number of the jobs will be filled with people from Greenwood. It should be an equivalent (wage) to where they are today. We'll just have to see what the response is going forward," said company spokesperson Jeff Williams.
Williams said the move is reflective of the company?s efforts to become more efficient.
"We're encouraged by some of the recent government stimulus measures," Williams said, noting there are now tax credits specifically for installing energy efficient windows.
"We're preparing for an up-turn in the market. Certainly, it couldn't come soon enough," he said.
Williams? optimistic spin probably won?t make many Greenwood employees feel any better; they?ll be forced to uproot their families, or look for work elsewhere.
"My understanding is there may be some wage issues if they move from one plant to another plant. And it is a distance," says Jody Connor of the Clark County Job Center.
Connor said the employees had little or no idea this bad news was coming.
The state will move in with a ?rapid response? meeting to explain what resources are available through the state.
Not to state the obvious, but these aren?t good times for the economy nationally or locally.
"I don't know where it's going to end. We all keep hoping we've hit bottom. We're at double-digit (unemployment) right now. What happened yesterday probably means we'll stay there for some time yet," Connor noted.
Connor says any one looking for employment help can call his office at 715-743-4631.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.