Union officials, representing workers at TV glass plant, and comp...
Union officials, representing workers at TV glass plant, and company officials are at odds on future of CRT business. With Corning closing TV glass plant in State College, Pa., and Techneglas and Thomson trimming jobs at factories in Ohio,…
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“our basic feeling is we have 4 to 5 years,” Tony Blankenship. pres. of Local 2331 of IBEW at Thomson’s Circleville, O., plant told Columbus Dispatch newspaper. But officials at Thomson and Techneglas both said they were confident that cost-cutting and efforts to make new products would help keep them remain competitive. “I don’t think the end is in sight,” Chet Kucinski, gen. mgr. of Thomson’s Circleville plant, said. Techneglas Mfg. & Engineering Vp Joseph Schaeufle backed Kucinski, saying “we're not giving up.” Techneglas also has plant in Pittston, Pa., and is supplier to Philips, Samsung, Toshiba and other manufacturers. Techneglas has cut employment at Columbus plant to 430 from peak of 1,500 in late 1990s. Thomson, meanwhile, laid of 400 of 900 workers at Circleville facility last month and halted plans to rebuild one of 3 glass furnaces. Separately, Matsushia Display Devices Corp. of America has changed name to MT Picture Display Corp. of America, reflecting CRT joint venture that was formed with Toshiba in spring. Joint venture has CRT plants in Troy, O., and Horseheads, N.Y.