BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The GE Appliances refrigerator plant in Bloomington, Indiana will close on August 26, the company announced Thursday.
GE Appliances had announced the closure in June, but the exact date the plant would be closing its doors was unknown until Thursday.
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The plant's 328 employees were told of the date Thursday, and will receive benefits based on a union negotation with the company.
The 301 hourly employees will receive severance wages and unreduced company benefits through June 15, 2017.
In a statement, GE Appliances said the demand for Bloomington-manufactured refrigerators is down by 76 percent since 2008.
“No one ever wants to have to close a plant," General Manager of Operations Frank Scheffel said. "But if it must happen, as is the case here in Bloomington, you want to make sure employees are treated fairly. I’m proud to be part of a company that takes care of its employees. 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.”
