Final hours for Solo Cup plant

[The Straight Story]

Final hours for Solo Cup plant

The final hours are at hand for the Solo Cup plant, a Springfield manufacturing institution for nearly 60 years.

The final shift at the plant at 1100 N. Glenstone Ave. will end at 7 a.m. today, said Mike Brumley, president of IBEW Local 1553.

Solo Cup Co. announced plans to close the plant in June 2010. The shutdown puts about 340 people out of work.

"It was a terrific place to work," said Brumley, who has worked at the plant since 1983. "There's been many generations of family work there."

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110303/BUSINESS05/103030354/Final-hours-Solo-Cup-plant

[gratuitous]

1. Those damn public employees!

You know it's somebody's fault, and this is our scapegoat de la semaine.

[sharp_stick]

3. Damned teachers

not buying enough Solo cups for their rotten little kids.... now we need to take away their pensions in retaliation.

:sarcasm: because on this site you've just gotta have it.

[Brickbat]

2. Dear DU:

Labor is facing many fights like the one in Wisconsin every single day all over the country. The thing is, they're on a much smaller scale and have much less visibility. We've all read similar stories about plants and businesses in our community that are shutting down because of "costs" or "efficiencies" or "increasing competitiveness by moving to...". The stories always have quotes from people about how working at the plant was a great job, that it was like being with a family. The owner or plant manager or CEO might get a little face-time, too, saying that while he understands the pain, this will be better for everyone in the long run.

There are so many things that aren't made here anymore -- Levi jeans. Converse tennies. Craftsman and Stanley tools. Schwinn bikes. Hershey bars. The fall of American manufacturing represents the fall of the union movement. As a union member, I am pleased to see so many people energized about Wisconsin. But I know that many of these same people aren't following through by looking for the union label and buying union and made in U.S.A. products whenever they can. It's not hard to do and I hope some of you remember to do so when you take your next shopping trip. Read my sig line and do it. Just for one day.

[Hannah Bell]

4. +100

[pscot]

6. Preach it, brother!

[MedicalAdmin]

7. Damn straight skippy. Buy local or don't buy.

I would go so far as to suggest that we include Canada in the buy American slogan only because they have been such a good neighbor for many many years and they support unions up there much more than we do here.

I read the source / location / union part of every single thing I, my wife, and our company buys. We always shop local first, American second (union is included in this IMHO), and then other option only by necessity (which are few and far between).

It's better for us, it's better for our budget (usually), and it's better for our communities which is where we get our support. Our communities are our friends and neighbors. And yes, I drive a ford that is union made. It's a focus and it's a great little car - best in class IMHO.

[JCMach1]

5. more than 100% profit wasn't enough, they had to ship the jobs overseas to get

600%