Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels
Reaction continues to come in from yesterday’s sudden announcement by Tramontina U-S-A that it has closed its’ Manitowoc plant on Mirro Drive, idling nearly 145 workers. Brittany Green, who has worked at the local cookware manufacturer for four years, told reporters, “everybody’s jaws kind of dropped. I mean, you could just hear the gasping.” Employees have heard rumors for months and expected the plant to close temporarily to allow for cleanup & maintenance. But, when they showed up for work yesterday morning, they learned their employer had been shuttered permanently. Production cost increases were cited as the main reason for the closure as well as higher tariffs on materials used to make the aluminum cookware. Tramontina also eliminated 100 jobs at its’ headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas. The company indicated it is looking for another company to buy the plant at 2005 Mirro Drive.
Advance notice of the shutdown was not given to employees however, all of those affected will receive their regular pay & current benefits coverage for 60-days, as required by state and federal law.
Mayor Justin Nickels has reached out in concern for displaced employees at Tramontina. He encouraged those looking for a job to call his office (920) 686-6980, or Progress Lakeshore (920) 482-0540 and they will help with current job openings. Those losing their jobs yesterday can also get assistance with unemployment benefits & applying for jobs at the Manitowoc Job Center. The mayor says ‘many local businesses are hiring’, and he cited Lakeside Foods, Redline Plastics, Robinson Metal and the newly-located Alliance Laundry Systems as examples. Skana Aluminum owns the former cookware building and is said to be aggressively looking for a new tenant.
