The company expects to cut about 760 jobs, or 13 percent of the 5,700-person work force it had at the end of August, as production is consolidated at other facilities, said Kathy Munson, a spokeswoman for the Riverside, Calif.-based company.
Six of the plants being shut down produce housing. They include Woodland, Calif.; Auburndale, Fla.; Willacoochee, Ga.; Douglas, Ga.; Benton, Ky.; and Pembroke, N.C. The Douglas factory will close immediately, while the other five probably will be shut within 60 days, according to the company.
The travel-trailer plants being closed are in Crawfordsville, Ind., and Mexicali, Mexico. The company has not determined when these plants will close.
After the transition, all of the company's travel trailers and fifth wheels will be produced in its three existing plants in Ohio and Oregon.
“In the current economic climate, it is essential that we match our production to demand,” said Elden L. Smith, president and CEO of Fleetwood. “With 13 remaining housing plants and three travel trailer plants, we can continue to service all our existing dealers and the markets in which we currently operate. We must position Fleetwood to operate profitably under the present and foreseeable business circumstances.”
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