As the plant nears its official closure, union workers and the company have yet to reach a middle ground amidst economic concerns for the borough of Charleroi.
The closure of Charleroi’s Corelle Brands glass plant has been postponed three times since its announcement in 2024. The historic glass plant is 132 years old. It makes Pyrex glass dishes, bakeware, and more products.
Employees are struggling to prepare for the closure, as they will lose severance pay and health care should they depart the company before it closes for good.
Joseph Del Cruz broke his lease last year to move when the closure was first announced. He lost money on a broken lease and skipped flights as the closure of the glass plant was delayed and delayed again.
“They didn’t give us a choice, to be honest. It’s either we lost our benefits or stay here, so a lot of people chose to stay,” Del Cruz said.
The plans to close the plant were announced by Ohio-based manufacturer and operator Anchor Hocking in September.
The plant in Charleroi was to be shut down by the end of 2024. All services were to be transferred to a plant in Lancaster, Ohio by that February.
The company wrote in a memo, “While this was an exceptionally difficult decision, integrating Charleroi’s operations into Lancaster will more effectively utilize Lancaster’s capacity while still allowing for future incremental growth.”
The initial announcement of the closure shocked the community where the historic plant is located, which has become known for glassmaking.
Residents posted “Keep making Pyrex here” signs around town, protesting the closure of the plant.
The plant in Charleroi is now set to close in early June, with most of its workers set to be laid off by Friday. Friday is the final day of production at the plant.
Anchor Hocking and the workers’ union have not yet reached an agreement on compensation and benefits. Litigation over the plant’s closure is continuing to play out in court.
The surrounding area is bracing for job loss and an economic fallout with the closure of the plant.
In 2000, the factory had more than 2,000 employees. The plant defined the Mon Valley region and became an integral part of the surrounding community.
Anchor Hocking promised more than 140 jobs in Lancaster, Ohio to Charleroi’s displaced workers. Not one has decided to take the offer and leave the Mon Valley region.
In September before the announcement of the shutdown, the factory had more than 300 workers and a $13 million payroll. The loss will shake the borough of 4,000 residents.
The workers’ union has been negotiating with Anchor Hocking for seven months and has not reached an agreement.
The company wants employees to sign a waiver that would give up their right to seek future damages or other relief from the company related to past events in order to receive compensation and benefits.
Union workers are hesitant to accept the deal because of former asbestos exposure and potential hearing loss from decades of working in the factory.
According to the union, the company is offering employees a week of regular pay, plus an extra day’s pay for each full year they’ve worked.
The union is requesting a $2,500 bonus for each employee that has continued working during the shutdown delays. The company countered with a $5-per-hour bonus to employees with perfect attendance from February 15th onward. Those with a near-perfect attendance record would get $3 per hour.
Union representatives requested a year of paid health care coverage, but the company offered to cover insurance premiums for two months. After that, workers could continue their coverage for up to a year but would have to pay the premiums themselves.
