Citing the need to reduce costs to remain competitive, Joerns Healthcare has announced that it will close its Stevens Point plant in 2012, meaning the central Wisconsin community will lose at least 175 jobs by year’s end.
The medical furniture company’s local plant employs 125 steel workers in the United Steelworkers Union No. 333, and another 50 office workers, according to a report in the Stevens Point Journal. Due to lower labor costs, some of those jobs could be sent to facilities Mexico, Texas, and Arkansas.
A company news release said some employees would be retained for product development and customer and technical service.
Joerns has substantially reduced its Stevens Point workforce since 2007, when it employed as many as 350 people. Some employees have worked there for more than 30 years.
Based on a company communication, union President Maurice King said Joerns is coming off a year that saw record profits. He attributed the plant-closing decision to greed.
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