“It’s a sad day for Two Rivers.” Those are the words of City Manager Greg Buckley after learning that the Thermo Fisher Scientific Columbus Street Plant will close. By the end of the year a latter containing that information was sent by Thermo Fisher Scientific to union leaders earlier this week.
Greg Coenen, senior staff representative for the Carpenters Industrial Council of the Midwest, said the decision will leave about 120 people without jobs. Coenen told the Herald Times Reporter,”This is all about corporate greed.”
The Columbus street location is a producer of steel cabinetry and fume hoods. Another downtown plant which includes wood production and Fisher’s corporate office is “not affected.” Much of the steel production is going to be moving to an expanded company facility in Mexico.
Coenen said union employees feel betrayed because they agreed to concessions three years ago and had received promises that company would expand in Two Rivers.
The State Dept of Workforce Development is expected to discuss future options for the workers with union leaders. Buckley says the city would like to work with the company on potential future usage of the one-story, 350,000 square foot plant. The company is 130-years-old and had been called Hamilton Industries for decades.
Damon Ryan-WOMT
