ELJER PLUMBINGWARE Closing is possible, company confirms

Loss of the plant could cost the city about $60,000 in income tax revenue.
SALEM -- The parent company of Eljer Plumbingware Co. has confirmed that consideration is being given to closing the plant, which employs about 250 people.
No decision on a closing has been made yet, a spokeswoman for Jacuzzi Brands of West Palm Beach, Fla., said Tuesday.
She did not say why officials are weighing shuttering the Salem plant. The facility, at 921 S. Ellsworth Ave., manufactures cast-iron plumbing products.
In a press release publicized earlier, Jacuzzi Brands said it's reviewing its operations, "particularly Eljer," in search of cost-saving initiatives to restore profitability.
What workers were told
An Eljer employee said Tuesday that managers had told workers Friday the plant might close in coming weeks.
Mayor Larry DeJane said he had been approached by Eljer retirees who expressed concern about the plant's future.
DeJane's efforts to reach company officials about the matter failed, however.
DeJane has expressed concern about losing Eljer, a major employer in the city. He estimated it would cost the city about $60,000 annually in lost income tax revenue.
The city administration is willing to try to help to keep Eljer open, DeJane said.
Jacuzzi Brands is a global manufacturer and distributor of bath and plumbing products for the residential, commercial and institutional markets.
Its products include baths, spas, showers, sanitary ware and bathtubs.
The company's products are marketed under several brand names, including Eljer.