CHARLEROI, Pa. – A century-old glass manufacturing unit is closing, placing 300 individuals out of a job, and Dave McCormick, the Republican difficult Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, desires to reserve it.
“I’m right here at the moment to face in solidarity with these employees within the battle to maintain these jobs right here,” McCormick informed a crowd of employees, retirees and their households Friday.
Anchor Hocking introduced this month plans to shutter its Corelle Model manufacturing unit that makes iconic Pyrex glassware — and has supported the native financial system since 1892.
The plant survived the steel-mill and coal-mine shutdowns that hollowed out Mon Valley’s industrial communities within the Eighties.
Now its company proprietor is dismantling tools and transferring to Ohio — however the employees are aiming to cease it, enlisting no matter assist they’ll.
United Steelworkers Native 53G Vice President Daniele Byrne, whose grandfather labored within the manufacturing unit and who met her husband there, stated the shutdown “would cripple over 300 households and assist destroy the delight of the Mon Valley.”
Byrne stated she referred to as many individuals to “assist save us” however didn’t hear again. “Dave McCormick was the primary particular person to supply to return to Charleroi.”
McCormick recalled the battle of his buddies’ dad and mom after the carpet manufacturing unit shut down in Bloomsburg, Pa., the place he went to highschool: “I do know what occurs when the anchor for a neighborhood shrinks or goes away.”
“I don’t wish to see this plant go away Charleroi, and I don’t wish to see these staff lose their jobs. I’ll hold preventing for them till a victory is at hand,” he declared.
The glass manufacturing unit was the second cease on McCormick’s Value of Poor Management Tour, which has allowed the previous hedge-fund govt to highlight the issues of working-class Pennsylvanians and take photographs at Casey, who’s spent practically 18 years within the Senate.
The technique appears to be working — three new polls discover Casey’s longtime lead narrowing, with one exhibiting him forward by simply 1 level.
McCormick arrived in an enormous marketing campaign bus and shook arms with employees, who gave him Pyrex merchandise, together with the ever present glass measuring cup.
Dozens of employees shaped a wall of indicators behind him that learn, “KEEP MAKING PYREX IN CHARLEROI,” with yellow indicators from the McCormick marketing campaign peeking by way of: “BOB STAYS, PA PAYS.”
Erin Guzik, whose boyfriend is a plant supervisor, informed The Put up, “I don’t know the way I’m going to lift my little one in a city with out trade.”
The veterinary nurse is undecided about who she’ll vote into the White Home and Senate. She went for the Inexperienced Occasion in 2016 and President Biden in 2020.
However she’s “leaning extra in the direction of Dave McCormick now that he confirmed up and is supporting us,” she stated.
Guzik stated she referred to as quite a few Democratic places of work, together with these of Casey, Sen. John Fetterman and Gov. Josh Shapiro, and by no means heard again.
“They’re supporters of the Mon Valley and trade being saved within the valley, so I’m shocked they weren’t right here,” she stated.
Although she’d welcome Casey’s help, she stated, “I can’t title one factor that he’s carried out that’s helped me.”
Casey despatched a letter final week to Anchor Hocking CEO Mark Eichhorn and requested why the corporate has chosen to “upend the lives of Pennsylvania employees” and the way it obtained the regulatory approval to take management of the manufacturing unit. Its private-equity mum or dad firm’s request was denied final 12 months.
Casey’s letter echoed the issues of Byrne, the native union chief, who accused Anchor Hockings of “value fixing and manipulating the market” and demanded an investigation from the Federal Commerce Fee to “see if that was a crooked deal.”
Anchor Hocking didn’t reply to a remark request.
McCormick the The Put up he helps an FTC investigation into Anchor Hocking’s determination to shut up store right here: “I’d wish to see the reasoning of it, and the individuals right here whose lives are affected by that call have each proper to know the reasoning as nicely.”
Employees actually agreed.
“The FTC ought to have stopped that sale,” Don Lutes, a machinist, yelled out from the gang. “Go query the FTC!”
In his remarks, McCormick repeatedly ripped Casey on the plant closure — and on issues throughout the Keystone State.
“Sky-high inflation is placing stress on each enterprise,” he stated. “We’ve had an excessive amount of onerous regulation, and Bob Casey hasn’t carried out something about it.”
“Bob Casey has failed you each step of the best way,” McCormick added. “He talks so much about manufacturing jobs, however he hasn’t carried out a factor to make your jobs simpler and hold nice alternatives right here in Charleroi.”
Casey marketing campaign spokeswoman Kate Good responded by calling McCormick “the poster boy for the Wall Road greed that put jobs like these at Anchor Hocking in danger.”
Don Lutes, an Obama-Trump voter, shook McCormick’s hand and informed The Put up he appreciated the candidate being “supportive.”
“Anyone can write a letter,” he stated. However “making private appearances makes a world of distinction.”