The Anchor Hocking Glass Plant in Charleroi, Pennsylvania has roots going back 132 years, but the last two have brought with it a unique kind of whiplash.
The 300+ workers supply Pyrex glass – a product line owned by Instant Brands until a 2023 bankruptcy led to the sale of its housewares division to a company called Centre Lane Partners, owner of glass company Anchor Hocking.
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While Anchor Hocking took over the Charleroi plant – also known as Corelle Brand – in February of last year, it was just eight months until the firm announced that it would be closing it down and moving the jobs to another location, 170 miles away in Ohio.
The news – made public in September – was greeted with outrage, as stakeholders rallied outside the plant and lawmakers asked company leaders to reverse course. Pennsylvania then-senator Bob Casey even called on the FTC to investigate the events that led to the plant’s closure decision.
Meanwhile, a confusing chain of events ensued and, by February, indecision seemed to be guiding the futures of the plant’s employees.
By February, the closure had been delayed three times and “at the 11th hour” it happened again.
Workers had reportedly cleaned out their lockers by the time they were told that the plant would remain open for a few months longer in order to fulfill a large order. But by then, as reported by Pittsburgh local news outlet WESA, interest in the factory’s fate had waned. Some blamed this on the fact that the political fortunes of local lawmakers had been decided, leaving few champions for Corelle in Charleroi.
Now, we might actually now be at the end of the road for the factory.
Last week, CBS News reported that “after a long and emotional roller coaster ride, the Corelle Brands plant owned by Anchor Hocking closed.” This time, reports suggest that it’s for the final time.
And while Charleroi Borough manager Joe Manning said it was “a gut punch,” he did add that several parties had expressed interest in possibly repurposing the site.
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X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
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The Anchor Hocking glass plant in Charleroi,
Pennsylvania has roots going back 132 years.
00:06.119 --> 00:09.630
The last two have brought with it a unique kind
of whiplash.
00:09.840 --> 00:15.439
The plant's 300+ workers supply Pyrex Glass, a
product line owned by Instant Brands until a
00:15.439 --> 00:20.360
2023 bankruptcy led to the sale of its
housewares division to a company called Center
00:20.360 --> 00:23.440
Lane Partners, owner of glass company, Anchor
Hocking.
00:23.600 --> 00:25.889
While Anchor Hockey.
Took over the Charleroi plant,
00:26.049 --> 00:29.479
also known as Correll Brands, in February of
last year.
00:29.729 --> 00:34.049
It was just 8 months until the firm announced
that it would be closing it down and moving the
00:34.049 --> 00:37.639
jobs to another location, 170 miles away in
Ohio.
00:37.849 --> 00:42.810
The news made public in September, was greeted
with outrage as stakeholders rallied outside
00:42.810 --> 00:46.080
the plant and lawmakers asked company leaders
to reverse course.
00:46.209 --> 00:51.099
Pennsylvania then Senator Bob Casey, even
Called on the FTC to investigate the events
00:51.099 --> 00:52.930
that led to the plant's closure decision.
00:53.139 --> 00:57.130
Meanwhile, a confusing chain of events ensued,
and by February,
00:57.419 --> 01:01.169
indecision seemed to be guiding the futures of
the plant's employees.
01:01.279 --> 01:05.849
By February, the closure had been delayed 3
times, and at the 11th hour,
01:05.860 --> 01:08.660
it happened again.
Workers had reportedly cleaned out their
01:08.660 --> 01:12.809
lockers by the time they were told that the
plant would remain open for a few months longer.
01:13.120 --> 01:18.389
In order to fulfill a large order, but by then,
as reported by Pittsburgh local news outlet
01:18.389 --> 01:21.819
WESA, interest in the factory's fate had waned.
01:22.080 --> 01:26.419
Some blamed this on the fact that the political
fortunes of local lawmakers had been decided,
01:26.669 --> 01:29.389
leaving few champions for Correll and Charleroi.
01:29.669 --> 01:32.819
Now we might actually be seeing the end of the
road for the factory.
01:33.029 --> 01:37.379
Last week, CBS News reported that after a long
and emotional roller coaster ride.
01:37.690 --> 01:41.180
The Correll Brand's plant owned by Anchor
Hocking closed.
01:41.349 --> 01:43.819
This time report suggested that it's for the
final time.
01:43.989 --> 01:47.269
And while Charleroi borough manager Joe Manning
said that it was a gut punch,
01:47.349 --> 01:52.680
he did add that several parties had expressed
interest in possibly repurposing the site.
01:53.069 --> 01:54.839
I'mmanna Wells.
This is manufacturing now.
