Obamanomics 101: Company Obama Touted During 2008 Campaign Announces Layoffs, Moves to Germany

11/7/2014

Glass Company Announces Layoffs

DURYEA — A glass plant in Luzerne County plans to let go of a third of its workers next year and move some of its manufacturing to Germany.

This comes after Schott Glass received $100,000 in casino money in August to invest in its operations in Luzerne County.

Some of the people who work in the plant have been on the job for 40 years.

When presidential candidate Barack Obama visited Duryea back in 2008, the Schott Glass plant exemplified how hi-tech manufacturing could help the economy.

“Everybody knows somebody who has been laid off, plant shut down,” then-Senator Obama said at a campaign event in 2008.“We really didn’t expect this. We’re heartbroken.”

But now the facility, once a shining role model, plans to lay off a third of its workforce in the spring and move its optic glass manufacturing to Germany.

“It is very tough. Our thoughts are with our employees, no doubt about it,” said site leader Michael Brown.

“We’re in shock,” said employee Harriet Jaworski. “We really didn’t expect this. We’re heartbroken.”

Management says the market for optic glass, used in things like cameras, is dropping off sharply, and the German plant can fulfill the shrinking demand more efficiently.

While optic glass will no longer be made in Duryea, laser glass will. It’s used in places like research labs and medical facilities.

The changes are bad news at the Town Tavern where workers often eat lunch.

Customers say good jobs are hard to find and every layoff hurts.

“What do you tell your children when you go home? Do you tell your grandchildren? Do you stay in this area? Why would you want them to stay in this area?” Tom Rome of Dupont said.

Some workers may be able to get jobs at the company’s other plants.

The nearest one is in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

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