WARN notices tell the rest of the story

New WARN notices:

Plastech	Elwood	286	05/15/08	07/13/08	3261991	Transportation Plastics Components Manufacturing	CL
Craco Indiana Inc	Indianapolis	70	05/08/08	12/31/08	3261123	Polyurethane Manufacturing	CL
LEAR Corporation	Hammond	109	05/02/08	07/03/08	336399	Automotive Interior Systems and Components	LO
Tyden Brammall, Inc.	Angola	60	05/01/08	07/11/08	56162	Security Seals System	LO

Two more manufacturing plants set to close

Two new WARN notices:

	Heidtman Stell Products			Crawfordsville	71	06/30/08	CL
	Citation			Butler	197	06/23/08	CL

Four new WARN notices -- almost 1,000 layoffs

New WARN notices posted in the last few days:

Sturgis Iron & Metal Co. Inc.	Elkhart	109	04/21/08	04/25/08	423930	Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesaler	CL
Sturgis Iron & Metal Co. Inc.	South Bend	54	04/21/08	04/25/08	423930	Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesaler	CL
Visteon Bedford	Bedford	577	04/17/08	06/30/08	336391	Engine Parts Manufacturing	CL
Faurecia Exhaust Systems	Granger	190	04/17/08	09/07/08	336339	Auto industry-Exhaust Manufacting	CL

Visteon closing its Bedford plant

The Indy Star morning business update brings us this news:

One of Bedford's largest employers, Visteon Corp., an auto-parts maker spun off from Ford, has confirmed plans to close its plant. The company notified the state that it will lay off 577 workers at the engine manufacturer starting June 30, with final closure July 31. The Michigan-based company, seeking to become more competitive, announced the move last year.

Lilly boots up to 500 workers

Eli Lilly may be laying off as many as 500 workers in Indianapolis. Couldn't Mitch Daniels do something about this, given that he used to work there?

Under pressure to reduce costs, Eli Lilly and Co. said today it plans to cut up to 500 jobs in Indianapolis through a buyout program.

The cuts, which will take place in coming months, would bring Lilly's headcount in Central Indiana to about 12,000, down from more than 14,000 in 2004. It represents the largest single job-reduction action by Lilly in Indiana in recent years.

Most of the cuts, up to 430 jobs, would come in the company's manufacturing operations, at facilities that make the active pharmaceutical ingredients for insulin products Humalog and Humulin as well as for the osteoporisis medicine Forteo. The remainder of the cuts, up to another 70 jobs, would come from Lilly's research and development operations.

"For several years, we have focused on strategic efforts to lower costs, increase flexibility and improve productivity across the business," said John C. Lechleiter, Lilly's president and chief executive, in a statement. "This strategy calls for reducing investments in some areas while increasing investments in others, and the streamlining decisions announced today are an example of this."

CFM Corp. in Huntington files WARN notice

A WARN notice posted indicates that 390 workers will be affected by some sort of action at CFM Corp. in Huntington. (The notice currently says "TBD.")

ATA files for bankruptcy, 2,200 out of work

This Indy-based layoffs story is making national news:

ATA Airlines canceled all flights Thursday after filing for bankruptcy as it posted advisories at ticket counters in the handful of cities it still served and sought help for stranded travelers.

The Indianapolis-based airline, once the nation's 10th-largest, entered bankruptcy for the second time in just over three years Wednesday, this time citing the loss of a key military charter business.

The airline had approximately 50 flights per day, mostly between Hawaii and four west coast cities _ Oakland, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas, said company spokesman Michael Freitag.

ATA said has been in contact with other airlines that may be able to assist with travelers holding tickets that the airline can no longer honor.

On its Web site, the airline apologized for the disruption and suggested that customers seek alternative travel arrangements.

The company had over 2,200 employees, Freitag said.

"Virtually all of ATA's employees are being notified today that their positions are eliminated," Freitag said.

Harvey Industries laying off 90 in Wabash

Today's WARN notices indicate that Harvey Industries in Wabash is laying off 90 alumninum manufacturing workers. The layoffs are effective June 2.

Centerplate Inc. laying off 219 in Indy

The WARN notices indicate that Centerplate Inc. in Indianapolis is laying off 219 service employees at the beginning of June.

420 union jobs axed in East Chicago

Union Tank Car Co. is shutting down in East Chicago:

Union Tank Car Co. will close its 40-year-old East Chicago plant at the end of May, eliminating the jobs of about 70 salaried and 350 hourly employees. The company will shift production to its newer, nonunion facilities in the South.

Chase to cut 100 jobs in Downtown Indy

JPMorgan Chase will cut 100 jobs in Downtown Indianapolis in May:

One of Downtown Indianapolis' largest employers let about 100 workers know they'll be out of a job by May.

JPMorgan Chase says it is cutting staff in the company's home-equity lending division at Chase Tower.

The affected employees were given 60 days' notice on Wednesday, spokeswoman Nancy Norris said today. Those employees provide loan-officer support, account maintenance and document-handling services. Another 350 home-equity workers that work for chase are being let go, primarily in Rochester, N.Y.

"The reason is the mortgage slowdown," Norris said by phone.

Dutch Housing cuts 250 jobs

The Department of Workforce Development posts a WARN notice today indicating 250 layoffs at Dutch Housing in LaGrange and Topeka. The layoffs will take place by May 28 as part of a closure.

GE to close Bloomington plant after all

Bad news for Bloomington:

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) has reportedly let workers at its refrigerator plant in Bloomington know the facility will close by the end of next year. The Bloomington Herald-Times reports employee-led efforts to make the plant more efficient have not convinced GE to change its plans. More than 800 people work at the Bloomington operation.

Sturgis Medical to lay off 15

Sturgis Medical Group is laying off 15 workers in Indiana:

The slow economy is hitting the health care sector. Sturgis Medical Group is closing a clinic in LaGrange County and two others in Michigan. The company says 15 workers will be laid off in Indiana. Our partners at WSBT-TV in South Bend also report the group will lay off 30 workers at its Sturgis Hospital in Michigan.

Kimball to cut jobs in Jasper

Kimball International will cut jobs at its Jasper headquarters, according to this story:

Kimball International plans to eliminate between 75 and 100 jobs by midyear from its headquarters in Jasper.

Company spokesman Martin Vaught says the job cuts will reach as high as the level of a vice president and include management, human resources, information technology and engineering positions.

Kimball International, which makes furniture and electronics, announced several weeks ago that it planned to cut about 150 positions worldwide.

The company has about 4,000 employees at its headquarters in the southern Indiana city.