Bloomington GE Plant Closing, More Than 300 Jobs Affected
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — GE Appliances has announced that it will close its Bloomington plant later this month, putting more than 300 people out of work.
The (Bloomington) Herald-Times reports that the company in June announced its intent to close the plant but on Thursday confirmed the plant would close Aug. 26. GE said it will stop producing refrigerators at the plant on Aug. 25. Most of the plant's employees will receive 90 percent of their base wage and benefits until June 15.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2249 president Bill Fairbairn called the package "unprecedented."
The plant employed as many as 3,400 workers in the 1990s. The company moved about 1,400 jobs to Mexico in 1999. The plant received tax credits when the plant was threatened with closure in 2008.
