Thermo Fisher closing 18th St. plant

TWO RIVERS - A lab equipment maker is closing a second plant in Two Rivers, leaving nearly 200 workers without jobs.

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced Wednesday it's moving the jobs from its 18th St. wood manufacturing plant to Round Rock, Texas.

Back in September, the company announced the closure of its steel manufacturing plant on Columbus St. by year’s end. The move resulted in the loss of about 120 jobs, which are going to Mexico.

Emotions ran high during shift change at Thermo Fisher.

"It’s not good; I don't know what else to say. Planned on retiring from here, but obviously it ain't going to work," said long-time Thermo Fisher employee Linda Kruck. 

Just hours before, 190 workers, including Linda Kruck, found out they'd soon be out of work.

"I have to do something, I don't know what I'm going to do," Kruck said.  "I'm too young to retire and I'm too old to go to school I guess, I don't know what else to say."

She, as well as others, say they saw the writing on the wall after the company said it would close its other manufacturing plant in town, and 120 jobs would be lost.

"It's just unfortunate that a company that's making a profit, would think of moving to make a profit, I don't know when enough it enough," said employee Floyd Payer.

But the company says otherwise.

In a press release, the company said after evaluating market conditions, costs and efficiency, it felt this was the best way to stay competitive.

The company wrote, "Business decisions that result in the loss of jobs are always difficult; we carefully considered all available options before moving forward with this approach. We will support our employees through this transition.”

But Carpenters Union representative Greg Coenen says he and others feel betrayed, but weren't surprised.

"Employees always keep a glimmer of hope in their minds that something was going to happen," Coenen said.  "These are good people, but when doors shut, others open, we'll survive."

City Manager Greg Buckley says this is no doubt a hit to the community of Two Rivers, but he says the city will move forward.

"We're concerned about the people directly impacted," explained Buckley.  "We want to work with all the workforce training and development agencies to see that they have all the opportunities available for them for retraining, for replacement and for getting back to work."

Despite that news however, employees like Linda Kruck still worry about what the future will bring.

"I don't know what we're going to do," Kruck said.

The company says workforce reduction will begin in early March and will wrap up by the end of September.

The company also has a business office in the city.

Officials say the approximately 150 non-manufacturing jobs will not be affected.