Monday, January 28, 2008
LAYOFFS AT MONACO IN INDIANA
RV Business
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Coburg, Ore.-based Monaco Coach Corp. laid off 200 employees at its operations in Wakarusa, Ind., Friday (Jan. 25).
WSBT TV, South Bend, reported that the RV manufacturer blamed the cutbacks on slowing demand.
"On Friday (Jan. 25) we notified those employees that were affected. We reduced our work force by about 200 employees," said Craig Wanichek, director of corporate communications for Monaco. "Overall the RV market has slowed this past year and the consumers out there are facing high fuel prices and some things like that.”
Monaco said the market may begin to pick up with the recent interest rate cuts and lower gas prices, and will bring back workers if sales improve.
Last June, Monaco consolidated its Holiday Rambler and McKenzie towable operations in Indiana. The builder closed a 260,000-square-foot plant in Elkhart and transferred production to facilities in Wakarusa and Warsaw, Ind.
According to WSBT, Wakarusa’s town manager estimates the company employs about 1,200 people at the facility.
The Monaco news added to concerns in the small, rural town as RV builder Travel Supreme Inc. unexpectedly closed its doors Wednesday. The company said it plans to reopen on Monday.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Coburg, Ore.-based Monaco Coach Corp. laid off 200 employees at its operations in Wakarusa, Ind., Friday (Jan. 25).
WSBT TV, South Bend, reported that the RV manufacturer blamed the cutbacks on slowing demand.
"On Friday (Jan. 25) we notified those employees that were affected. We reduced our work force by about 200 employees," said Craig Wanichek, director of corporate communications for Monaco. "Overall the RV market has slowed this past year and the consumers out there are facing high fuel prices and some things like that.”
Monaco said the market may begin to pick up with the recent interest rate cuts and lower gas prices, and will bring back workers if sales improve.
Last June, Monaco consolidated its Holiday Rambler and McKenzie towable operations in Indiana. The builder closed a 260,000-square-foot plant in Elkhart and transferred production to facilities in Wakarusa and Warsaw, Ind.
According to WSBT, Wakarusa’s town manager estimates the company employs about 1,200 people at the facility.
The Monaco news added to concerns in the small, rural town as RV builder Travel Supreme Inc. unexpectedly closed its doors Wednesday. The company said it plans to reopen on Monday.
