BUCYRUS— Mayor Jeff Reser has released information regarding a meeting between several local people and Walmart officials that took place on Monday regarding the loss of 81 jobs at the Bucyrus GE Lamp Plant.
According to Reser, he met with the officials via a virtual meeting, along with Bucyrus City Safety Director Jeff Wagner, Gary Frankhouse of the Crawford Partnership and former Bucyrus City Council member and current GE employee Steve Pifer.
“The City of Bucyrus presented our concerns about the loss of 81 jobs to our local economy. We emphasized the importance of “made in the USA” jobs throughout all of America, especially rural America, and that the production of light bulbs is critical not only to Bucyrus but to the nation as well,” said Reser.
He pointed out that just last week, Walmart announced an effort to buy “Made in the USA” products with an investment of $350 billion over the next 10 years.
Reser said that Bucyrus representatives asked Walmart officials to strongly consider investing a small portion of these funds in automating the now-closed LED line which would make the local GE/Savant manufacturing plant profitable, ensuring a long-term relationship with the local plant.
“Walmart officials have been concerned about the closing of the LED line and have communicated ideas with GE/Savant on ways to keep the line in Bucyrus. To date, the discussions have not been successful,” said Reser.
He said the 81 jobs ended on Friday but the equipment for the line is still at the factory on South Walnut Street.
“Walmart officials are monitoring the situation and are willing to work with GE/Savant as needed to ensure local production,” said Reser. “Bucyrus is grateful to Walmart officials for taking time to meet with us and hear our concerns about the effects that the closing of the LED line will have on 81 workers, their families and the Bucyrus economy.”
Reser met with the GE plant manager a week ago and he talked about the process of making the LED bulbs and the lack of profitability in the process to date but that was the only contact Reser has had with any GE/Savant officials.
“Savant is headquartered in Massachusetts while GE Lighting is in Nelo Park in Cleveland. We had reached out to Walmart officials in the hope that they would be able to work with GE/Savant to ensure the “Made in USA” label is present in the lighting section,” said Reser. “I was told that our GE plant is the last domestic manufacturer of lighting in the USA. I would hope that the lessons learned in 2020 about importing essential products and the potential for disruption of supply would have been remembered.”