Athens, PA IR plant closes after 100 years

Nothing lasts forever. Here is the story from the Sayre Morning Times.

After more than 100 years, Ingersoll-Rand in Athens, the worldwide company’s oldest manufacturing plant, closed its doors for the final time.

With only a handful of employees remaining, the old whistle was blown for the final time in a special ceremony inside the plant. The few employees then walked to the front of the building where Norm Catlin lowered the IR flag for the final time.

Some employees surmised that Chesapeake Energy, new tenants in the building, may soon raise their flag in place of the Ingersoll-Rand one.

Kim Quinn’s husband had worked at IR since 1993. Standing with her father, who had worked at the plant for 35 years, she wiped tears from her eyes, reflecting on more than three decades of memories

“That place brought a lot of income in for families. Kept us off the welfare line,” she said.

Rumors of Ingersoll-Rand Athens, Pa Plant Closing

Once again, there are rumors circulating throughout the Valley that the Athens, PA Ingersoll-Rand plant is going to completely shut its doors. Every few years this rumor seems to pop up. But this time around, there's more to the story.

As detailed in a recent Morning Times article, there are approximately 174 people employed at the Athens, PA plant. Compare this to the plant's heyday in 1967 when 1800 people were employed at the plant.

According to an anonymous source inside the plant, 110 employees were let go since the beginning of 2009.

I would still bet against the plant closing, especially given the almost yearly rumors of a shut down. However, if you're an employee there and have a possible work injury that has not been officially accepted by IR's workers' compensation insurance company, now is the time to get it done. I have blogged about this before with regard to being laid off while on light duty work restrictions due to a work related injury. If so, you should be automatically put back on total disability and receive your full disability rate. However, this will not happen if your claim has not been officially accept.

As for comment by corporate headquarters on the possible plant closing:

“We don’t ever comment on anything in the future,” said Susan Jaramillo, director of communication for the corporate headquarters."