'We will fight until there's no fight left'

Rally held to save World Kitchen plant in Charleroi

CHARLEROI – Daniele Byrne said employees of World Kitchen in the borough have been "walking around like zombies" since receiving the news of the plant's closing.

"Nobody wants to come to do their job. It's understandable. Why do you want to work when you know we're getting tossed to the side? The factory means so much to this town."

Byrne, vice president of United Steelworkers 53G, which represents workers at the Corelle Brands plant, was among numerous past and present employees who turned out for a rally Friday morning at Davies Ford in an effort to preserve their jobs and the longstanding glass-making company where so many of them and their family members have worked.

Byrne likened the closure to a family being broken up.

"I've been here 35 years, my husband has been here 36 years," Byrne said. "We don't want to lose this. Three hundred hard-working people are going to lose good-paying jobs and be without a job. This is a family-oriented plant.

"My grandfather put 50 years in here," she continued. "I've made many dear friends here that I call family. If this leaves, think about the taxes in the town ... This is a part of Charleroi's history and I don't want to lose it."

Workers were informed earlier this month that plant operations would be moved to an Anchor Hocking glass plant in Lancaster, Ohio.

More than 300 employees – some with as many as 48 years of service – will lose their jobs. About 20 were let go as soon as news of the deal was announced.

Mark Eichorn, CEO of Anchor Hocking, said about 150 positions would be opening up at the Lancaster plant.

World Kitchen manufactures kitchenware and tableware, including Corelle and Pyrex brands. The history of the plant dates back to 1893, when it was MacBeth-Evans Glass Co.

Ownership has changed hands numerous times in its long history, with the most recent owners being New York-based Centre Lane Partners, following its acquisition of the appliances division of Instant Brands. Anchor Hocking is another company under the Centre Lane umbrella.

Heather Roberts, president of Local 53G, has worked at the plant for 18 years. She said her husband and father-in-law also are employees, and her mother, brother-in-law and aunt also worked there.

"That's exactly what it is," Roberts said, echoing Byrne's sentiments. "They're all family. You get to know everybody. I have pride in this company and they're going to tear us down."

Charleroi Mayor Gregg Doerfler, Councilman Larry Celaschi and U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick also attended Friday's rally.

"I don't want to see this plant leave Charleroi, and I don't want these people to lose their jobs," Doerfler said. "I will keep fighting until victory is at hand. I just want to save it. After all these years, they're going to take it out of here."

An emotional Celaschi held up a glass-blowing pipe that had been used by his grandfather, Pete Celaschi, as a plant employee.

"I never thought I'd see the day when this plant would be closing, but here we all are," Celaschi said. "The trickle-down effect of these job losses will affect the borough, the school district, the borough-owned water and sewage authority. It will have an effect on small businesses here in town. These employees make the greatest glass product in the world in Charleroi, Pennsylvania."

Kristin Hopkins-Calcek, Charleroi Council president, said after the rally that the borough has been in talks with the Federal Trade Commission as well as lawmakers on federal, state and local levels. She added attempts have been made to contact Anchor Hocking, but there has been no response.

"We are currently talking with the people who matter and who can do something and can put the pressure on," she said. "We have the highest hopes and our first priority is to keep this plant in Charleroi at all costs. We will fight until there is no fight left."

Joe Manning, borough manager, said there is a focused effort to preserve the plant.

"The idea is to bring Corning management back to the table and get them to start talking to see if there is a solution," he said. "This plant is viable. It's making money. It's a good plant. These people deserve an answer as to why this plant is closing. We don't want to give anybody false hope, but as long as management is willing to come back to the people, talk to the union, talk to the workers and talk to the leadership here in Charleroi, we always hold out hope this decision can be reversed."

Manning said contingency plans are in place in the event the plant is not saved.

"Leadership in Charleroi felt it was best to be proactive and not let this property turn into a brownfield, and try to find a replacement and hopefully keep these people working," he said. "We started to look around for anybody who can take this plant, repurpose it and bring another manufacturing site in here.

But Byrne said she will continue the fight.

"I'm not giving up until the fat lady sings and I'm the fat lady," she said.