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Last updated on Monday, August 15, 2016
(BLOOMINGTON) - More than 300 employees at the Bloomington GE Appliances plant will work their last day on August 26.
Plant officials announced plans to close the plant in June, but had to go through negotiations with the union to finalize employee severance benefits.
"No one ever wants to have to close a plant," said BPO General Manager of Operations Frank Scheffel in a statement. "We've been through a lot together, and we can now start the next chapter of our lives knowing we have the resources to make a successful transition to retirement or to new employment for those who wish to work."
Employees will receive 90 percent of their base salary and unreduced benefits through June 15, 2017. After that, they'll each receive a severance package negotiated by the union last summer. Officials say 94 percent of their employees are eligible to retire with a pension and health coverage.
The decision to close the plant came after GE says demand for side-by-side refrigerators made at the facility declined 76 percent since 2008.
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