Bimbo Bakeries plans to close a plant near Easton, Pa. eliminating 78 union jobs as it prepares to open another plant in a neighboring county.
The (Easton) Express-Times reports bakery officials on Monday announced the closing of the plant in Wilson Borough, Northampton County. The plant employs 200 and formerly made products for Maier's and Schaible's.
Bimbo officials in January announced plans to open a $75 million plant in Upper Macungie Township, in neighboring Lehigh County, but at that time didn't say what impact that might have on the Easton-area plant.
On Monday, officials said that new plant would employ about 150 workers.
Union officials didn't immediately comment on the move, but Bimbo vice president Rod Cunha says the new plant will be a union bakery and that some Easton-area workers could move to the new plant.
“This was a difficult decision because of the committed team of associates at the Easton bakery,” Cunha told the paper. “However, the age of this facility and its landlocked nature makes it incapable of competing effectively in the marketplace.”
