SUSSEX, WI (BRAIN)—Russell Corporation notified Wisconsin state officials of its intention to close a former Huffy Sports plant, eliminating the plant's last 50 jobs by next March.
Russell filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN) notice with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development last week warning of the closure and layoffs of the plant's remaining office and warehouse workers, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal.
According to the state filing, Russell will begin laying off employees on Dec. 31 and continue until March 30. At least two may remain employed until June 30, while one was offered a job at Russell's Spalding division in Springfield, MA. Fifteen workers are represented by District 10 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union.
The plant employed 150 when Russell acquired the Huffy equipment business from Huffy in mid-2004. Russell ended production of basketballs and backboards at the plant in spring 2006, transferring the work to a supplier in China, according to the paper.
Russell was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. last year, merging with Fruit of the Loom.
