MORRISON, Illinois -
Shock and sorrow outside the General Electric plant on Wednesday morning. 110 employees are getting a one-year notice that the plant will close in 2010.
Following a 60-day period to examine cost-cutting measures, the plant could close by July 30, 2010.
Boone Greeley logged 37 years at the plant and will be able to retire.
"Every good thing comes to an end," he said. "This definitely has been good for a lot of people, the community and everything."
Parent Company GE blames higher costs along with lower demand and income for deciding to shutter the plant. It's a move that will end a 60-year tradition in Morrison.
Photos and memories detail GE's presence in Morrison. In its prime, one of Whiteside County's largest employers. That's when the payroll topped 2,500 workers.
"During the heyday, I think everybody thought it would be here forever," said Morrison Mayor Roger Drey.
But like so many American manufacturers, offshore moves to Malaysia and Mexico depleted the local workforce. The same plant where once-GE spokesman Ronald Reagan spoke in 1955 dwindled to just 110 workers this year.
"This has been an institution for so long," said Mike Drevyankko, 57, a GE engineer with 30 years at the Morrison plant. "So many people have raised their children here. Their children have worked here. Generations have worked at the plant."
More than half the current staffers will be able to retire and receive full benefits. Younger employees will get retraining money, a chance to transfer and extended insurance. But they face an uncertain job market.
"Given the global economy, I would say in some ways it's expected," Mayor Drey said. "But it's still a shock."
A shock at the plant, where building automotive and appliance parts isn't what it used to be. It marks the end of an era for Boone Greeley, 57. Greeley plans to retire, but he worries about the younger workers.
"Finding another job is going to be tough," he said. "We're the dying dinosaurs. No good paying jobs and benefits like GE provided. They definitely had the good ones."
Good careers ending at GE in Morrison.
Following a 60-day period to examine cost-cutting measures, the plant could close by July 30, 2010.
Boone Greeley logged 37 years at the plant and will be able to retire.
"Every good thing comes to an end," he said. "This definitely has been good for a lot of people, the community and everything."
Parent Company GE blames higher costs along with lower demand and income for deciding to shutter the plant. It's a move that will end a 60-year tradition in Morrison.
Photos and memories detail GE's presence in Morrison. In its prime, one of Whiteside County's largest employers. That's when the payroll topped 2,500 workers.
"During the heyday, I think everybody thought it would be here forever," said Morrison Mayor Roger Drey.
But like so many American manufacturers, offshore moves to Malaysia and Mexico depleted the local workforce. The same plant where once-GE spokesman Ronald Reagan spoke in 1955 dwindled to just 110 workers this year.
"This has been an institution for so long," said Mike Drevyankko, 57, a GE engineer with 30 years at the Morrison plant. "So many people have raised their children here. Their children have worked here. Generations have worked at the plant."
More than half the current staffers will be able to retire and receive full benefits. Younger employees will get retraining money, a chance to transfer and extended insurance. But they face an uncertain job market.
"Given the global economy, I would say in some ways it's expected," Mayor Drey said. "But it's still a shock."
A shock at the plant, where building automotive and appliance parts isn't what it used to be. It marks the end of an era for Boone Greeley, 57. Greeley plans to retire, but he worries about the younger workers.
"Finding another job is going to be tough," he said. "We're the dying dinosaurs. No good paying jobs and benefits like GE provided. They definitely had the good ones."
Good careers ending at GE in Morrison.
