Manufacturer shuts doors with no notice to workers (or customers)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=725568

By RICK ROMELL
[e-mail]
Posted: March 6, 2008

Wisconsin Die Casting, a manufacturer on Milwaukee's south side, has shut down with virtually no notice.

The action left employees wondering Thursday about the fate of their jobs, while industrial customers tried to gain access to the locked-up plant and retrieve valuable tooling.


Photo/Karen Sherlock

Wisconsin Die Casting left employees and customers hanging this week after shutting down operations.


"Apparently there was an issue regarding finances," said Carl Rosen, regional president of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, which represents 65 Wisconsin Die Casting employees and another 20 on layoff.

"There was some hang-up where the money wasn't there that they need to keep operating, and it happened all of a sudden," Rosen said.

But he said efforts are under way to restart the business. Those stand the best chance of success if they can be carried out quickly, Rosen said.

Jeffry Emmett, the plant's maintenance supervisor, said that about an hour after finishing his shift Wednesday, he got a call from a co-worker who said "management had just closed the doors, basically."

FULL story at link.

[SpiralHawk]

1. "an issue regarding finances." Hmmm?

Translation: the stinking republicon economic realities have torpedoed the formerly fabulous American economy, and only republicon oil & munitions cronies are making Massive Profits these days.

[Divernan]

2. No matter how much the feds drop the rates, the banks are refusing to loan $$$

Lots of small businesses in big trouble trying to get their loans rolled over or renewed.

[madrchsod]

3. i guess the workers will have to do like the workers in argentina

go back into abandoned plants and start up production themselves.