300 in Greenville to lose Rubbermaid jobs

<p>Citing global competition and downward pressure on prices, Atlanta-based Rubbermaid Commercial Products said it will close its Greenville plant by April, eliminating more than 300 jobs.</p><p>Rubbermaid said it will merge the Greenville manufacturing departments with several existing domestic and foreign facilities.</p><p>The plant employs 284 production workers and 30 salaried workers.</p><p>Employees were called in by shifts and told of the closing at a 3 p.m. meeting Wednesday. The announcement shocked some, while others grappled with the idea of having to find a new job within 60 days.</p><p>Its terrible, said Joyce Gardner, a five-year employee. I guess Im going to have to look for another job. We were told we were going to be laid off on April 30. Its just one of those things that you dont know what you are going to do.</p><p>Empire Brush built the plant in Greenville more than 37 years ago. Rubbermaid purchased the company in 1994 and manufactured brooms, brushes, mops, buckets and other household materials there.</p><p>Jim Williams, human resources manager for the plant, said it was not an easy decision for the company to close the plant, but the companys overall health was at stake.</p><p>We have worked hard to improve plant efficiencies and have successes under our belt, he said in a news release. However, global competition and price pressure in our product line has forced the decision that running this facility is no longer feasible.</p><p>Employees like Connie Godwin of Scuffleton said there were rumors of the plant closing, but she didnt expect it would happen this soon.</p><p>I came home and sat down, and thats when it hit me, Godwin, 45, said. I felt sick to my stomach. You just dont know what you are going to do. No one expects to be told they will lose their job in a couple of months.</p><p>Godwin said employees were told that departments would shut down over the next two-plus months. The company will offer severance packages and retraining programs to all employees.</p><p>I guess thats what Im going to do, is go back to school, said Godwin, a one-year employee. Maybe this is an opportunity for me to learn a new trade. Its just going to be tough because we were like a family on second shift. Its going to be hard to separate and go somewhere else. Were scared we are not going to see each other any more.</p><p>In 2001, Rubbermaid laid off 127 employees.</p>

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