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CHARLEROI, Pennsylvania — It is a recurring story in western Pennsylvania: A company is bought out, the investors want to consolidate or restructure, and the collateral damage is always the cost suffered by the families who depend on those jobs, the communities that will lose their most valued treasure, their people, and the overall sense of loss felt all over the block.
Last week, Anchor Hocking, a subsidiary of Correll Brands, announced it was closing the plant that has been a fixture in the community for over 100 years, with many families having four and five generations who have worked in their factory.
Anchor Hocking CEO Mark Eichorn told the plant’s 300 workers that at least half of their jobs would be relocated to the company’s plant in Lancaster, Ohio.
Dave McCormick, the Republican businessman and former Army veteran running for the U.S. Senate, attended a rally held by the workers and told them he was there today to address the situation.
“These job losses aren’t just numbers on a balance sheet; this isn’t even about jobs. It is about communities and families and lives,” he told the crowd of a couple of hundred union members of Steelworkers Local 53G who work at the plant, along with their families and members of the community.
“This is about the community you all here call home,” he said.
McCormick said he was there “to stand in solidarity with the workers in the fight to keep these jobs here to build a vibrant economy for the commonwealth and ensure that these Pennsylvania communities are not left behind.”
Many of the men and women who spoke with McCormick shared emotional stories of what the plant meant to them, including Charleroi Mayor Gregg Doerfler, who said tearfully, pointing to the plant at his back, “I just want you to stay open.”
Larry Celaschi, the Charleroi borough councilman, said when he received the word the plant was going to be closed, he was shell-shocked.
“Never thought I’d see the day when this plant would be closing, but here we all are,” he said, then turned to all of the union men and women behind him holding “Keep Making Pyrex in Charleroi” signs as his voice, too, cracked.
Celaschi said he immediately called Local 53G union Vice President Danielle Byrne to offer his support; he also said he made a call to incumbent Sen. Bob Casey Jr.’s (D-PA) office for help to save the plant.
The borough councilman said he was thrilled when McCormick answered his call to show up and show his support for the union rally on Friday.
Celaschi said after many attempts to call Sen. Casey, he turned to the crowd and quipped, “Where is Bob Casey?”
Celaschi said three days ago he received a visit from three Casey staffers who he said were unfamiliar with the economic devastation that would happen when the plant closes, “nor did they know that the Quality Pasta Plant closed and Charleroi lost 100 jobs the Friday before Labor Day.”
Byrne, dressed in a Pittsburgh Steelers shirt because at the plant where she works Fridays is always Steeler Friday, said, “I just started my 35th year here working at the plant where we have produced premium and quality ware for over 100 years,” she said, adding, “And now that may soon all come to an end.”
She added, “If that takes place, it will devastate the town. Not only that, but 300 working people will lose good middle-class jobs.”
Byrne said over half of the people who work at the plant live nearby and range from 10 to 40 years of service, bringing a kind of stability, pride in workmanship, and rootedness that keeps cities like Charleroi viable and stable.
Byrne thanked McCormick for showing up, giving support, and being there when no one else would.
“We are not giving up until the fat lady sings, and I am the fat lady,” she said.
McCormick said his stop here was part of his “failed leadership tour” across the state, visits to places where he said “the policies of Biden, Harris, and Casey have left towns like this behind and their people behind.”
“This is the price of poor leadership,” said McCormick.
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McCormick and Casey are in a dead heat race, with a Washington Post poll on Thursday showing both men at 48%. Casey has held statewide office in Pennsylvania since 1996, first as the state auditor general, then state treasurer, and then three terms in the Senate beginning in 2006.
The polling shows, as it has for the entire race, that voters say the two most important issues are the economy and immigration.
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