SPENCER, Iowa (AP) - A northwest Iowa manufacturing plant will lose 150 assembly line jobs to a factory in Mexico, employees were told Tuesday.
Cleveland, Ohio-based Eaton Corp. said piston pump assembly operations at its Spencer plant will be moved by the third quarter of next year.
The plant, which makes light-duty and heavy-duty piston pumps, has 422 workers total. Of the 150 layoffs, 102 are temporary workers, said spokeswoman Kelly Jasko. Another 48 jobs will be eliminated through attrition including retirements, she said.
The company said in a statement that it is striving to compete globally in fast-growing markets.
''To compete effectively in this global marketplace, Eaton must continue to look for opportunities to maximize cost, manufacturing and distribution efficiencies,'' the statement said.
Full-time workers facing layoffs will get 50 days advance notice, severance benefits and help finding another job.
Eaton reported sales of $11.1 billion in 125 countries in 2005. It has about 60,000 employees worldwide.