Kohler Co. lays off 350 in Sheboygan Co. (union contract with the company remains under negotiation)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20101104/GPG03/11040590/1247/Kohler-Co.-lays-off-350-in-Sheboygan-Co.

November 4, 2010

SHEBOYGAN -- Kohler Co. announced Wednesday it has laid off 350 employees in Sheboygan County, about half of them union workers whose contract with the company remains under negotiation.

A total of 750 employees were eliminated nationwide as part of a cutback blamed on a continued slump in renovation and new home construction.

Spokesman Todd Weber said the total includes 450 permanent administrative and production employees who were given notice Wednesday and 300 temporary workers who were reduced over the last few months. He said the local cuts affect the company's village of Kohler operations and include union, non-union and temporary workers.

Negotiations between Kohler Co. and the UAW already have included a rare extension and the sudden retirement of the union's top negotiator. The two sides have been in contract talks for 11 weeks in all and five weeks since mutually agreeing to extend the old contract past the Sept. 30 deadline.

Kohler Co. employs about 6,300 people in Sheboygan County.

— Gannett Wisconsin Media

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