Bethany Tabb, Courier-Times Staff Writer
What used to be one of the county's largest employers is down to 83 people after the latest layoffs at Metaldyne.
The company recently filed a layoff notice with the state under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act. Corporate spokeswoman Marge Sorge said it's not a new layoff, but it's in response to the latest news from Chrysler.
Many Metaldyne employees were sent home on April 30 when the plant temporarily stopped its Chrysler production lines.
Sorge said that was because of Chrysler Corp.'s announcement it would file bankruptcy and stop vehicle production while it completes its deal with Italian carmaker Fiat.
On Monday, Sorge said those operations would probably stay closed for about 30 to 60 days. But because Chrysler makes up 70 percent of the plant, she said, it didn't leave many employees at Metaldyne.
She squelched rumors that the plant is closing or up for sale.
"When Chrysler comes back up, that part of the plant will come back up," she said.
She said 280 people were affected by the latest layoff. That brings the plant's total laid off employees to 623 throughout the past two years, she said.
Last year Metaldyne was listed as the third largest employer in Henry County. But with 83 employees today, it wouldn't even make the top 10 list.
Members of United Auto Workers Local 371 were told about the notice at a meeting on Saturday. Noel Blevins, who represents retiree benefits, said it was hard to make sense of what that means for the plant. He was told the union hall would be closed for 30 days.
"Everyone went out shaking their heads," he said.
On Monday, the State of Indiana Web site didn't show a notice from Metaldyne on its WARN list.
Chad Wlodarek of Henry County WorkOne said notices are posted on the Web site as soon as they're approved by the state.
Typically, WARN notices are filed prior to the layoff's effective date. But Wlodarek said there are exceptions in the case of unforeseeable business circumstances.
Companies with less than 500 employees must give a WARN notice for mass layoffs that affect at least 33 percent of their employees.
Sorge said the latest layoffs are indefinite in length. When employees are called back depends on when Chrysler resumes production. But she wouldn't speculate about what would happen if Chrysler doesn't survive the bankruptcy.
"We're hopeful that Chrysler comes back up soon," she said.
The Michigan-based corporation also produces auto parts for Ford, General Motors and Toyota vehicles. It's owned by Japanese company Asahi Tec.
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