print story

Four state companies laying off hundreds of employees

The Capital Times  —  10/24/2008 9:06 am

It won't be a fun fall or happy holiday season for hundreds of employees at four Wisconsin companies, announcing layoffs or plant closings due in large part to the severe economic downturn.

The biggest announced layoff, that of 137 workers at Marinette Marine Co. in Marinette, is expected to be temporary, but the 245 employees being laid off at the other companies will be looking for new jobs.

The layoffs and plant closings were announced Thursday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

Tecumseh Power Co. is closing two facilities in Grafton and New Holstein with a combined workforce of 90 employees, the layoffs scheduled to begin Dec. 8.

Wick Building Systems Inc. in Marshfield is laying off 63 employees in an effort to "size the business relative to the loss of revenue," with the layoffs beginning Christmas Eve.

GM is also contemplating more layoffs as it closes the Janesville plant, possibly furloughing 92 salaried employees if they can't be reassigned to other GM facilities. The move will be in conjunction with the layoff of 1,200 at the plant beginning Dec. 23.

Marinette Marine hopes to be able to recall the laid off workers, but a lot depends on getting new business or a reconsideration of the U.S. Navy decision to delay the awarding of a contract for the new LCS, or littoral combat ship. The U.S. Coast Guard also told the company it didn't get a contract to build fast response cutters.

Marinette already laid off 89 workers Sept. 22; the 137 new layoffs will begin Sunday.

The Capital Times  —  10/24/2008 9:06 am