SALEM Eljer Plumbingware plant appears destined to close

THE VINDICATOR
SALEM -- Corporate executives will decide Nov. 15 whether to close the Eljer Plumbingware Co. plant in Salem, but a union official said the closing appears certain.
Bob Jones, human resources director at the plant, said the company so far has made a preliminary decision to close the 250-employee plant. He wouldn't comment on what factors will be considered in making a final decision, but he said that determination will be made Nov. 15.
If the closing is approved, it will be Feb. 28 or later, he said.
Joe Holcomb, a United Steelworkers of America representative, said he doesn't expect the plant to stay open. He expects a 60-day plant closing notice to be filed shortly after the meeting.
To begin bargaining
The union and company are scheduled to begin bargaining on shut-down benefits Oct. 30, he said.
The company recently rejected a proposal the union made to try to save the South Ellsworth Avenue plant, which makes cast-iron plumbing products.
The union offered to surrender $2 an hour in pay, a week of vacation and post-retirement benefits for new hires.
"We put a good proposal on the table to meet their demands, and they blew us off," he said.
Eljer is owned by Jacuzzi Brands of West Palm Beach, Fla. A company spokeswoman could not be reached for comment this morning.
Jacuzzi said recently that it was considering closing the plant because the cost of manufacturing in Salem is continuing to escalate.
Holcomb said union officials were told that the work was being sent to China, where workers are paid less.
Union officials have talked to Eljer about buying the operation through an employee stock option plan but that doesn't seem like it's going anywhere, Holcomb said. The company is willing to sell the plant, but not the product orders and other parts of the business, he said.