UPDATE: Monaco Coach to keep Elkhart plant openby Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)
(WSBT file photo) ELKHART — There is some good economic news for the RV industry that has been hit hard by layoffs. Monaco Coach will keep its custom chassis plant in operation in Elkhart. Multimedia Related Content
Monaco planned to close the plant in September, along with plants in Nappanee and Wakarusa. The chassis plant on Elkhart's south side is a joint venture between Monaco and Navistar. Monday's announcement stated the operation will continue production of several types of RV chassis at the site. “I think it’s a good sign,” said Kyle Hannon with the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce. “What we've been saying all along is that the Elkhart economy is valuable and the work force is valuable and we know how to make things. And I guess it doesn't surprise me that perhaps Monaco would look back here and say, ‘We still need to assemble RVs, there's no better place to do it.’" He says he feels the fact that gas prices are going down and that there have been other positive economic indicators indicates this could be a sign that things are turning around in the area. Monaco has not said how many jobs will be saved by the decision. But Inside Indiana Business reported that Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nate Feltman estimates anywhere from 100 to 150 jobs could be saved. Mark Bowersox with the Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council said, “Certainly for Monaco, keeping any of those jobs open in Indiana is a good thing for the workers and for Northern Indiana’s economy. And I think it’s good for the RV industry for Monaco to keep a presence in Elkhart County.” The hope with many is that the momentum will continue to bring prosperity to the local RV industry. The state gave Monaco Coach a tax credit to stay in Wakarusa until 2016. It wanted Monaco to repay about $3 million. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation says Monday’s announcement doesn't relieve Monaco of that obligation. But it could lower the amount of the penalty. Monaco also announced it will hold job fairs this week in Wakarusa and Elkhart for workers being laid off, and companies seeking new employees are expected to attend. Wednesday, Aug 27 at 6:34 PM A very tierd monaoworker wrote ...No matter what we write on this site it wont change for us kay and his sidekicks will keep living the high life but one thing is for sure he in the end will be six feet under like the rest of us i hope he has made peace for his doings as for the rest of us God speed good luck Wednesday, Aug 27 at 6:47 AM Anonymous wrote ...Sounds like it was the workers fault for signing papers, if you sign away your rights, before reading then it is your fault, A UNION would not let them get away with this!!! I did hear that you guys were offered to go to Oregan and allot of you did not take it!! You really cannot support people that have options or sign away rights!! Wednesday, Aug 27 at 5:23 AM Anonymous wrote ...i work at monaco in elkhart .what can i do about unpaid wages? Tuesday, Aug 26 at 7:37 PM Anonymous wrote ...Monaco in Oregon had H.R. in Wakarusa hand out resignation papers to all employees without ever contacting or talking to workone. When i asked if i could contact workone i was told it didnt matter what the state said it was a deal between Monaco and me. Believe it or not people signed these. Then changed their minds. Last i heard Monaco didnt want to give them back. The State should really get involved before something happens Tuesday, Aug 26 at 5:41 PM Monaco Employee wrote ...What is a union going to do? Is the UAW stopping GM and Ford from closing plants? A union would just demand more pay and more benefits for the workers all the while requesting the workers do less. So if Monaco had a union, they probably would have shut down last year. Tuesday, Aug 26 at 2:30 PM Reality wrote ...How do some Rv companis get the heck scrutinized out of them in the media and others dont? Indiana is a Business Friendly state. What Our Man Mitch has done is basically chopped workers rights to the bare minimum. Heartland RV must have a darling in the Media, because they have laid off repeatedly, and have stayedout of the papers. Getting ready to lay off again in September. Are we going to read about that?? Tuesday, Aug 26 at 1:31 PM nicole wrote ...violince going up jobs and money going down this is a sign of the times either things need to get better or god needs to come Tuesday, Aug 26 at 8:56 AM Anonymous wrote ...Do you guys have a union?? If not these companies can do what ever they want!!! As for taxes I am sure they are not worried about the state going after them, after all the red tape in court, it will end up a drop in the bucket for them!! Were any of you guys offered to go to Oregan and if yes, by law they have to give you a moving allowence. If you were offered this and did not take it, then that your guys fault!!! Tuesday, Aug 26 at 7:47 AM What a joke wrote ...Monaco is not doing a "positive thing". They are only doing this to avoid repayment to the state. Slide Out Monaco Employee: My husband works there in Waky too, and was offered that same option. He looked into it further - what they don't tell you is that you will lose your vision & dental insurance. People who accept this offer have to sign a paper stating they are voluntarily resigning - how could this NOT make people ineligible for Unemployment? Something needs to be done. Monday, Aug 25 at 10:46 PM Deb wrote ...http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/9072331.html this has the law suits on it. yeah they are trying to scr*w you all. that happens here in indiana alot. work for years and where does it get you. lining the rich pockets, then they are done with ya... Monday, Aug 25 at 7:52 PM Slide Out Monaco Employee wrote ...I am an employee at the wakarusa plant and today as someone else stated we recieved a paper asking us to accept an early termination and that our unemployment would be ok. Several calls to workone ended up showing it was not true. When we asked the head of HR she said that it was supposed to be between the employee and monaco. Sounds like Monaco was trying to go under the radar of the state. With them trying to get out of obligations of taking care of displaced employees can anyone help us out? Monday, Aug 25 at 7:36 PM Anonymous wrote ...How long is it til they can close everything and not pay the taxes? And yes. Kay Toolson looks out only for the investors and himself. Just like any other CEO. I wonder how many of the supervisors they offered jobs out in Oregon for keeping their mouths shut about the truth and lying to the rest of the employees? Does this mean they are going to still build that medical facility in Indiana that Irv Yoder told employees about. Monaco loves to keep the employees on the hook til they are done with. Monday, Aug 25 at 6:46 PM Monaco Worker wrote ...So don't think Monaco is keeping this plant open out of the kindness of their haert! I am quite positive that once they can find an out and they can get out....they'll be gone! Monday, Aug 25 at 6:40 PM Monaco Employee wrote ...The only reason this plant is staying open is because Navistar owns 57% of this chassis plant, and Monaco was threatened with a law suit. And, Monaco wanted us to sign a paper today in essence saying they will pay us not to work next week and that it will not affect our unemployment. Bologna! After sever calls to Indianapolis, if we were to sign this paper, if will defer our unemployment benefits by up to 6 weeks. Don't sign the paper! Monday, Aug 25 at 6:27 PM Anonymous wrote ...I guess it's good news 150 jobs saved while 16,500 people lost their jobs in July guess thats a good trade off. Monday, Aug 25 at 5:04 PM Brian Malrooney wrote ...Where are they gona sell this coaches now? No body is buying except in far away china or hong kong where people has a lot of money and the gas is cheap. Why they don t start building coaches that are solar powered or run on water. May be smaller coaches will sell better here. As far as I know the price for gasoline will 5 dollars in a couple months and we will end up riding bikes or tennis carts that take less gasoline and run farther and no collisions on sight yet. Please build small coaches.. Monday, Aug 25 at 4:42 PM Impressed wrote ...Now there you go Monaco...doing a positive thing. That will keep a dozen or so Monaco employees out of the unemployment line! Monday, Aug 25 at 3:38 PM monaco worker wrote ...Dont think Kays doing this out of the kindness of his heart.HIS BEING SUED!!!!!!!! Monday, Aug 25 at 3:03 PM nicole wrote ...umm they still hav ea plant in goshen its not there only one in elkhart for tax reason duh Monday, Aug 25 at 1:09 PM covo wrote ...The reason they are staying is because Kay was getting sued by his navistar boardmember for breaching their contract. CCP chassis was going after monies they previously built for monaco. Had them over a barrel. So monaco agrees to live out the contract. They will be out as fast as they can. They obviously wont be building any motorhome chassis will they. Monday, Aug 25 at 12:56 PM Smart wrote ...Hmmmm. If they close all the plants, the state goes after them for back taxes from a deferment they had. Not a difficult decision to leave one plant open . . . for now. Monday, Aug 25 at 12:41 PM Corey wrote ...Well even though they are still closing the Wakarusa and Nappanee plants, this is quite a relief for the city of Elkhart. I don't think it matters how many jobs they bring back, any amount will be a positive in this time. I think it says something about Monaco for holding a job fair for their previous employees. They clearly didn't have to do that if they didn't want to. Add a comment |
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Thursday, Aug 28 at 9:29 AM Monaco update wrote ...
Today workers were told that starting next week they are on a "temporary" leave - they won't be reporting to work. How temporary this is remains to be seen. But here's the bad part. Monaco is no longer going to pay employees bonus - just straight pay. They're going to pay them for 5 days instead of 4, but that is still about $90 less a week than what they're getting now. Is this even legal? I thought they were obligated to pay them their full wages until their stated last day of Sept. 17