230 to lose jobs with furniture plant closing230 to lose jobs with furniture plant closing230 to lose jobs with furniture plant closing1

KITCHENER —
A kitchen factory that produces office furniture components will be closed in the next 12 to 18 months, resulting in more than 230 people losing their jobs.
Knape & Vogt Waterloo\'s manufacturing business, formerly known as Waterloo furniture components, is moving to Knape & Vogt\'s headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Waterloo, Knape & Vogt, 300,000-square-
Located at the foot factory at 501 Manitoba Avenue.
It was closed just five months after Knape & Vogt purchased the kitchen furniture factory from the previous owner CompX Waterloo.
\"Our business provides services to similar customers and actually produces some of the same products,\" he said ,\"
President Knape & Vogt, Michigan, said Friday.
\"After owning the company for 4 to 5 months and staying with customers and employees, he said in a telephone interview:\" Obviously, the best way to serve our customers is from one facility to two. \".
Kikina factory makes ball
Bearing sliders for office drawers and ergonomic office accessories such as adjustable keyboard platforms and plates
Screen monitor support, Ross said.
He said the company decided to close in stages rather than \"difficult \".
The factory employs 232 employees, including union employees and office employees, he said.
Ross said the workers were told to close at a meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
\"Of course, they were disappointed, as you expected,\" he said . \".
\"The staff there did a good job.
There is no reflection on their performance.
The real market conditions are to take good care of our customers.
Some administrative staff including markets, engineering and products --
Developers will stay in the kidina area, but all manufacturing and distribution will be transferred to the Grand Rapids, Ross said.
Union employees will receive severance and other benefits as outlined by contract and non-union employees
He said union workers would receive termination benefits under the Employment Act in Canada.
Although the company has been known as Knape & Vogt Waterloo since January, it has a long history in the kidina and Waterloo regions.
It began with Waterloo metal stamping parts on Regina Street in the 1930 s and became Waterloo furniture parts in the 1950 s.
It moved to William Street in Waterloo, and then to Manitoba Avenue in kidina.
The second plant at Trillium Drive in kidina is also part of the operation.
Waterloo furniture has hired up to 1,000 workers and traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Over the past decade, it was acquired by CompX International in Dallas and then sold to Knape & Vogt in January.
Knape & Vogt paid $59 million for the Kitchener plant and another CompX plant in Taiwan.
Although the workers at the plant agreed a few years ago to make concessions to keep the operation viable, the News of the closure is still shocking, said co-worker Tom Walsh of the area
Coordinator of the American Federation of steel workers
The plant has been in the area for many years and there are no short weeks or work sharing plans, he said.
\"There is really no reason for them to expect employers to withdraw from Canada,\" Walsh said on Friday . \".
He says workers earn between $18 and $23 an hour, and many have worked in the company for a long time.
Although it gives a broad time frame for closing dates, Knape & Vogt says it may start pulling equipment out of the plant as early as this summer, he said.
\"Who knows when the actual deadline is.
Although Walsh said the company would never admit it, he speculated that the move could be related to the recent right-wing forces in Michigan. to-
Work legislation to make trade unions voluntary members.
\"It\'s an ugly phenomenon that has looked up in the past few years.
\"Who knows where it\'s going to end, but for me, when you go down this road, it\'s a bottoming game,\" Walsh said . \".
The closure announcement was the second major blow to United Steel Workers in this area in the past month.
Early April,. O.
Smith announced plans to shut down its manufacturing operations at the water heater plant in Fergus, leaving 350 people out of work.
The government needs to develop a manufacturing strategy that can start with a government, business and Labor conference, Walsh said.
\"The only solution is often to lower wages.
Kichena Mayor Carl Zell said he found news of the closure of Knape & Vogt on Thursday.
\"Obviously, I was very surprised and very disappointed,\" he said . \"
\"It is regrettable that once a decision is made, it is difficult to reverse the situation.
\"This decision is a blow to the workers, their families and the community as a whole,\" he said.
Zehr pointed out that according to recent reports, the entire manufacturing industry is making a comeback in this area, but most of the recruitment is done in smaller companies, with Toyota being an exception.
Chowitt @ township enterprises. comKITCHENER —
A kitchen factory that produces office furniture components will be closed in the next 12 to 18 months, resulting in more than 230 people losing their jobs.
Knape & Vogt Waterloo\'s manufacturing business, formerly known as Waterloo furniture components, is moving to Knape & Vogt\'s headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Waterloo, Knape & Vogt, 300,000-square-
Located at the foot factory at 501 Manitoba Avenue.
It was closed just five months after Knape & Vogt purchased the kitchen furniture factory from the previous owner CompX Waterloo.
\"Our business provides services to similar customers and actually produces some of the same products,\" he said ,\"
President Knape & Vogt, Michigan, said Friday.
\"After owning the company for 4 to 5 months and staying with customers and employees, he said in a telephone interview:\" Obviously, the best way to serve our customers is from one facility to two. \".
Kikina factory makes ball
Bearing sliders for office drawers and ergonomic office accessories such as adjustable keyboard platforms and plates
Screen monitor support, Ross said.
He said the company decided to close in stages rather than \"difficult \".
The factory employs 232 employees, including union employees and office employees, he said.
Ross said the workers were told to close at a meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
\"Of course, they were disappointed, as you expected,\" he said . \".
\"The staff there did a good job.
There is no reflection on their performance.
The real market conditions are to take good care of our customers.
Some administrative staff including markets, engineering and products --
Developers will stay in the kidina area, but all manufacturing and distribution will be transferred to the Grand Rapids, Ross said.
Union employees will receive severance and other benefits as outlined by contract and non-union employees
He said union workers would receive termination benefits under the Employment Act in Canada.
Although the company has been known as Knape & Vogt Waterloo since January, it has a long history in the kidina and Waterloo regions.
It began with Waterloo metal stamping parts on Regina Street in the 1930 s and became Waterloo furniture parts in the 1950 s.
It moved to William Street in Waterloo, and then to Manitoba Avenue in kidina.
The second plant at Trillium Drive in kidina is also part of the operation.
Waterloo furniture has hired up to 1,000 workers and traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Over the past decade, it was acquired by CompX International in Dallas and then sold to Knape & Vogt in January.
Knape & Vogt paid $59 million for the Kitchener plant and another CompX plant in Taiwan.
Although the workers at the plant agreed a few years ago to make concessions to keep the operation viable, the News of the closure is still shocking, said co-worker Tom Walsh of the area
Coordinator of the American Federation of steel workers
The plant has been in the area for many years and there are no short weeks or work sharing plans, he said.
\"There is really no reason for them to expect employers to withdraw from Canada,\" Walsh said on Friday . \".
He says workers earn between $18 and $23 an hour, and many have worked in the company for a long time.
Although it gives a broad time frame for closing dates, Knape & Vogt says it may start pulling equipment out of the plant as early as this summer, he said.
\"Who knows when the actual deadline is.
Although Walsh said the company would never admit it, he speculated that the move could be related to the recent right-wing forces in Michigan. to-
Work legislation to make trade unions voluntary members.
\"It\'s an ugly phenomenon that has looked up in the past few years.
\"Who knows where it\'s going to end, but for me, when you go down this road, it\'s a bottoming game,\" Walsh said . \".
The closure announcement was the second major blow to United Steel Workers in this area in the past month.
Early April,. O.
Smith announced plans to shut down its manufacturing operations at the water heater plant in Fergus, leaving 350 people out of work.
The government needs to develop a manufacturing strategy that can start with a government, business and Labor conference, Walsh said.
\"The only solution is often to lower wages.
Kichena Mayor Carl Zell said he found news of the closure of Knape & Vogt on Thursday.
\"Obviously, I was very surprised and very disappointed,\" he said . \"
\"It is regrettable that once a decision is made, it is difficult to reverse the situation.
\"This decision is a blow to the workers, their families and the community as a whole,\" he said.
Zehr pointed out that according to recent reports, the entire manufacturing industry is making a comeback in this area, but most of the recruitment is done in smaller companies, with Toyota being an exception.
Chowitt @ township enterprises. comKITCHENER —
A kitchen factory that produces office furniture components will be closed in the next 12 to 18 months, resulting in more than 230 people losing their jobs.
Knape & Vogt Waterloo\'s manufacturing business, formerly known as Waterloo furniture components, is moving to Knape & Vogt\'s headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Waterloo, Knape & Vogt, 300,000-square-
Located at the foot factory at 501 Manitoba Avenue.
It was closed just five months after Knape & Vogt purchased the kitchen furniture factory from the previous owner CompX Waterloo.
\"Our business provides services to similar customers and actually produces some of the same products,\" he said ,\"
President Knape & Vogt, Michigan, said Friday.
\"After owning the company for 4 to 5 months and staying with customers and employees, he said in a telephone interview:\" Obviously, the best way to serve our customers is from one facility to two. \".
Kikina factory makes ball
Bearing sliders for office drawers and ergonomic office accessories such as adjustable keyboard platforms and plates
Screen monitor support, Ross said.
He said the company decided to close in stages rather than \"difficult \".
The factory employs 232 employees, including union employees and office employees, he said.
Ross said the workers were told to close at a meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
\"Of course, they were disappointed, as you expected,\" he said . \".
\"The staff there did a good job.
There is no reflection on their performance.
The real market conditions are to take good care of our customers.
Some administrative staff including markets, engineering and products --
Developers will stay in the kidina area, but all manufacturing and distribution will be transferred to the Grand Rapids, Ross said.
Union employees will receive severance and other benefits as outlined by contract and non-union employees
He said union workers would receive termination benefits under the Employment Act in Canada.
Although the company has been known as Knape & Vogt Waterloo since January, it has a long history in the kidina and Waterloo regions.
It began with Waterloo metal stamping parts on Regina Street in the 1930 s and became Waterloo furniture parts in the 1950 s.
It moved to William Street in Waterloo, and then to Manitoba Avenue in kidina.
The second plant at Trillium Drive in kidina is also part of the operation.
Waterloo furniture has hired up to 1,000 workers and traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Over the past decade, it was acquired by CompX International in Dallas and then sold to Knape & Vogt in January.
Knape & Vogt paid $59 million for the Kitchener plant and another CompX plant in Taiwan.
Although the workers at the plant agreed a few years ago to make concessions to keep the operation viable, the News of the closure is still shocking, said co-worker Tom Walsh of the area
Coordinator of the American Federation of steel workers
The plant has been in the area for many years and there are no short weeks or work sharing plans, he said.
\"There is really no reason for them to expect employers to withdraw from Canada,\" Walsh said on Friday . \".
He says workers earn between $18 and $23 an hour, and many have worked in the company for a long time.
Although it gives a broad time frame for closing dates, Knape & Vogt says it may start pulling equipment out of the plant as early as this summer, he said.
\"Who knows when the actual deadline is.
Although Walsh said the company would never admit it, he speculated that the move could be related to the recent right-wing forces in Michigan. to-
Work legislation to make trade unions voluntary members.
\"It\'s an ugly phenomenon that has looked up in the past few years.
\"Who knows where it\'s going to end, but for me, when you go down this road, it\'s a bottoming game,\" Walsh said . \".
The closure announcement was the second major blow to United Steel Workers in this area in the past month.
Early April,. O.
Smith announced plans to shut down its manufacturing operations at the water heater plant in Fergus, leaving 350 people out of work.
The government needs to develop a manufacturing strategy that can start with a government, business and Labor conference, Walsh said.
\"The only solution is often to lower wages.
Kichena Mayor Carl Zell said he found news of the closure of Knape & Vogt on Thursday.
\"Obviously, I was very surprised and very disappointed,\" he said . \"
\"It is regrettable that once a decision is made, it is difficult to reverse the situation.
\"This decision is a blow to the workers, their families and the community as a whole,\" he said.
Zehr pointed out that according to recent reports, the entire manufacturing industry is making a comeback in this area, but most of the recruitment is done in smaller companies, with Toyota being an exception.
Chowitt @ township enterprises.