The end is drawing near for the Owens Illinois glass plant in Lavington. After 40 years, the glass making facility will cease production next Friday, putting 300 employees out of work. The workers are represented by the Teamsters Union (local 213) and business agent Gene Wirch doesn't buy the company's explanation. "It's been around for 40 plus years and we don't think it's a financial decision because to our knowledge, they were making money." Wirch tells KISS FM, he isn't aware of any of the workers finding jobs elsewhere, but plant manager Tom Herger says a few have. Herger says an undetermined number of employees will stay on for up to six months to decommission the plant. Herger says he too will remain on the job for a few months but after that, he's not certain of his future. Wirch says the issue of pay in lieu has been settled but he's not pleased with the company's pension offer, saying it's not as good as what was offered to the workers of a shut down plant in Ontario. "We do not feel it's fair at all to the employees in Lavington to get something less than somebody in the same circumstance in Ontario." The closure and loss of payroll will be an estimated $15 million dollar hit to the North Okanagan economy.
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