4 votes determined outcome of Tamarkin closure

AUSTINTOWN

A four-vote difference on a labor contract could have meant a new facility for Tamarkin workers — and a chance to keep their jobs.

Instead, Giant Eagle, the retail support center’s parent company, decided to cease operations at Tamarkin this spring.

This means about 200 local jobs will be lost and another long-standing Mahoning Valley operation will be gone.

“I am very disappointed that these high-paying jobs are leaving our community,” U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan said in a statement.

Workers will vote today on the severance package the company has offered. The package includes a continuation of health care to a certain amount and pay dependent on the amount of time worked at the company. For example, 20 years translates to 20 weeks of pay, the union said. Giant Eagle would not comment on the severance package. The union said if the package is accepted the workers could stay in the plant through June.

Hoping to avoid the facility’s closing, Ryan, of Howland, D-13th, urged the union and the company to end a labor dispute in December. By February, after the contract was voted down twice by the 165 members of Teamsters Local 377, the company decided to move on.

The company said Tuesday that nothing has changed from its original decision to relocate operations to a third-party company.

“I wish things would have turned out differently. My heart goes out to the families that have been hurt by this decision,” Ryan said.

Read more about what led to the decision and Giant Eagle's response in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.