Girard plant cuts jobs

Staff report

GIRARD

Trinity Highway Products LLC announced Friday that it will cut about 25 to 40 jobs, Mayor James Melfi said.

“Trinity Highway Products LLC, after a thorough business analysis, has decided to cease galvanizing operations and reduce fabrication activities at our facility in Girard,” said Jack Todd, spokesman for Trinity. “Unfortunately, this process will result in a number of difficult changes, including the elimination of 43 positions at the Girard facility.”

“It’s a blow to the city, it’s a blow to them [the workers] and their families,” the mayor said.

Workers will receive a severance package, he said.

Melfi said the equipment at the plant will remain there with the possibility that operations could resume in the future depending on whether business picks up.

About 70 jobs remain at the plant, he said.

The plant originally started in a garage decades ago before it was eventually acquired by Trinity Industries Inc. in Texas about 20 years ago, Melfi said.

Todd said the company will work to help those impacted by the changes to identify other employment opportunities through international recruiters and local job fairs.