According to several press releases made by networks such as yahoo.com, beginning on Dec. 9, employees at Charleroi’s glass-making plant will be laid off. 

According to glass-international.com, Anchor Hocking, the current maker of Corelle, Pyrex and CorningWare, filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) on Oct. 11. Some management personnel at the plant were notified of this news.

 Joe Manning, the Charleroi Borough Manager, who provided more details on the plant’s closure, said, “Employees will begin being furloughed on Dec. 9, and the final closure will take place by the end of February.”

The closure of the plant will impact 270 employees, many of which have been there for decades.

“The impact on current employees will be devastating. Many of these workers have been with the plant for decades and its closure will mean not just the loss of employment but just as importantly a loss of the identity of their hometown and community,” Manning said.

Manning also elaborated on how Charleroi’s town grew from these long-serving employees, as the plant has been operating for over 100 years and many generations of families have been involved with this company.

“Charleroi grew as an industrial site due to the production of glass and glass products. This will be the last glass plant in Charleroi and as you can imagine, its closure will carry with it a certain sentimental remorsefulness,” Manning said.

Manning indicated no formal policies or plans had yet been put in place to help the employees. 

Manning elaborates, saying, “The current administration of the Borough of Charleroi plans to offer whatever support it can in any way to help anyone affected by this action, as well as their families. At this time however, no formal policies have been adopted.”

Although the borough has not taken significant action to help the affected employees, there have been talks in the Department of Labor and Industry Rapid Response Team to provide aid. Options include re-training, transfers to a different location and other services for the affected employees.

“The Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board (SCWDB) met with the Department of Labor and Industry Rapid Response Team to discuss support and how best to help the displaced workers,” Manning said. “The SCWDB also met with the Site Administrator of the Mon Valley PA Career Link to discuss the needs of the workers and how best to address them. They hope to offer re-training or other supportive services.”

There is the possibility of 150 of these employees being transferred to the Lancaster, Ohio, site. However, this would still leave 120, nearly half of the employees, without employment.

“The community of Charleroi are extremely grateful for all of the support we have received during this very difficult period,” Manning concluded.