Miller Building Systems to close Elkhart plantby Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)
Miller Building Systems is closing its Elkhart plant, leaving more than 150 workers without a job. (WSBT photo) ELKHART COUNTY — Another company in Elkhart County is closing up shop, leaving up to 125 workers without a job. Miller Building Systems is closing plants in Indiana and Pennsylvania. This is just the latest in a string of bad employment news for one family. “We received a verbal notice they wanted to have a meeting at one o'clock of all employees,” Bill Stafford said. Stafford is a salesman at the Miller Building Systems plant. He said that meeting took place Wednesday afternoon at the plant off of County Road 3. "And at the meeting, they informed us that as of today, which was yesterday, that they wanted everybody to clean their desk out and they would be closing the doors,” Stafford said. “Everybody was shocked, you know, it was hard to take." Adding to that he said the company still owes him three days pay and $10,000 in sales commissions. "We have not had any commissions in the last five months, so yeah, there's a great deal of money there that they owe me that I'm sure I'll never see," Stafford said. Compounding matters, he says, is the fact his daughter-in-law, who is eight months pregnant, was laid off from her job at Monaco Coach on Wednesday and his son was laid off from his job earlier this year. He is not sure where he goes from here. "With the way things are around here, I would think the only way I could probably get a job would be to relocate," Stafford said. "I just don't know that that's an option for me right now." Stafford said it’s his understanding that a skeleton staff will be working to close the plant. Calls to the company were not returned. Monday, Sep 22 at 11:41 AM Another HR Person wrote ...I have to agree with WAKE-Up. It's all about EDUCATION. Not everyone is college material, but for heaven's sake our kids need to pay attention in school and graduate! Then learn a skill - any kind of skill. Then you can go anywhere in the country and get a job. Saturday, Sep 20 at 3:14 PM Rick wrote ...Glad you guys aren't talking about the Miller Builder my buddy works for! Hope this story doesn't hurt the home builder, Why does Dennis Miller have his company's name the same as this greedy company? Thank god it's not him! Saturday, Sep 20 at 8:44 AM I used to... wrote ...I wondered just how long it would take for management to run the company into the ground. Now the "good" employees are (and HAVE been) sufferening because of their GREED! Sad, but they will probably come out smelling like a rose - while the employees work at putting their lives back together. That's what happens when ignorant people are promoted/hired into management. Saturday, Sep 20 at 7:33 AM DEBBIE wrote ...IF THERE IS NO JOBS THE EDUCATION IS NOT GONNA HELP YOU.THE ONLY DEGREE THAT IS GONNA HELP PEOPLE NOW IS COMMOM SENCE, OH BUT THEY DO NOT TEACH THAT MY BAD.WAKE UP PEOPLE HARD TIMES ARE HERE, AND THEY ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD Saturday, Sep 20 at 1:33 AM "unskilled" salesperson wrote ..."Wake up",go back to sleep.I sell industrial coatings, and to say I'm unskilled, or anyone selling any kind of product is ignorant. You must know your product top to bottom,know what it will, and will not do.Not to mention trouble shooting, oh, and recommendations, that if incorect, can cost your company, and the customer millions of $. No, no skill in that! And why so many "career" changes? 3 inside 4 years doesn't equal even 1 "career". Look up the definition of career. Friday, Sep 19 at 9:41 PM Wake up wrote ...WOW, I had no idea so many bitter people are out there. I didn't say you HAVE to have a degree but some training in anything will help. There's always a need for mechanics, and there's a place for service workers too. But to sit back and bemoan the loss of another mfg is doing no good-there wont be new ones to replace that one. Jobs are out there. and I DO have one, in fact Ive had to change careers 3x in 4 yrs. never been out of work for more than 4 weeks. So yes I DO know of what I speak. Friday, Sep 19 at 6:50 PM Elkhart wrote ...All the illegals in Elkhart are leaving because there is no work. Once again, they win. Friday, Sep 19 at 6:10 PM A shame. wrote ...I feel sorry for so many nice people I knew when I worked there. Friday, Sep 19 at 4:35 PM someone wrote ...Miller building systems used to be owned by Coachmen. They sold it to someone else about a year/year and a half ago. Friday, Sep 19 at 2:44 PM J wrote ...According to McCain:As Wall Street faces a dire financial crisis, McCain continues to be suffering from denial as he repeats his line that “the fundamentals of the economy are strong” during a campaign appearance this morning (9/15) in Jacksonville, Florida. Well, I guess he still has a job and how many houses? Friday, Sep 19 at 1:50 PM yea mon wrote ...I use to work there and I saw the closing coming, so I left a year ago while it was still easy to get a job. I wish them luck trying to find a job in these times. Friday, Sep 19 at 10:53 AM HR Person wrote ..."Wake Up." I hire people for a living and hate to break it to you, but people with degrees are in just as much trouble as those without. It's about your attitude towards work and learning a job. We can always train someone on skills, but you can't fix stupid. I've interviewed those who EXPECT a job just because of a degree. They haven't worked a day in their lives and don't want to, but think we owe it to them. Please. I'll take the "uneducated," group. At least they are hard workers. Friday, Sep 19 at 10:03 AM Amy wrote ...I am sure the 24,600 people being let go from Hewlett Packard were all unskilled workers as well... Give me a break, I know engineers that are out of work, how much more specific training can you get then that. I think Wake Up needs to Shut Up!!! Friday, Sep 19 at 9:49 AM Lj wrote ...Being educated in the right field will help ensure a better shot at having a good job!There are no guarentees in life but the better prepared you are the better your chances are at success. Friday, Sep 19 at 8:49 AM j david wrote ...im really starting tgo worry,our city with a heart is falling quickly,my friends were all in trouble.Im going to say start getting ready for winter,the heat bills are on the way up and were all gonna really feal the real pain..... Friday, Sep 19 at 8:37 AM WOW wrote ...Isnt Miller Building Systems owned by Coachmen? They also have plants in Vermont, Kansas and NewYork. I also think they have something to do with the plant in Colorado. Friday, Sep 19 at 8:26 AM Anonymous wrote ...ELKHART WILL = GARY WATCH AND SEE Friday, Sep 19 at 8:09 AM Bill wrote ...It's just another downturn, we've made it through before, and will again. Friday, Sep 19 at 7:55 AM Mesage to Wake Up wrote ...Maybe you need to WAKE UP. Who are you to call anyone unskilled because they don't have a degree. I know several people with degrees who can't find a job right now. With your lousy attitude, I doubt you even have a job. You are NOT any better than anyone else in this world. Get off your high horse and try a little kindness. offer some sympathy, volunteer at a shelter. Do something nice for someone. Work on your communication skills. Friday, Sep 19 at 6:20 AM Anonymous wrote ...I am reflecting back in time to the time my father came home and stated that Studebakers was closing. The year was 1964. No one could get a job. This area needs rebirth badly. Friday, Sep 19 at 4:01 AM JillB wrote ...Mr "Wake Up" must be a disgruntled immigrant, upset at the fact they can no longer tell all of their relatives to come over here and take our jobs anymore because there are none. Thursday, Sep 18 at 10:00 PM ya wake up wrote ...ya "One word-EDUCATION" no more working middle class, india and china will do it all for us. we should all be doctors and lawyers and shrinks ! or work for the gov. the American worker was good for some time , but now thats old school. I think I will try welfare and crime route. that looks to be the most secure and pays the best . what should we all go back to school for ? fast food or walmart 101 ? Thursday, Sep 18 at 9:01 PM anon wrote ...Hey "Wake Up". You should heed your owns words. Having an advanced education does not mean that you will find another or better job. Numerous people with degrees are out of work too. Thursday, Sep 18 at 8:57 PM Just Me... wrote ...Hey "Wake up", sounds like you are the one that needs more education...maybe how to read? A salesman for a building systems plant is not a skill or trade? And where did it say that he didn't have a certain amount of education? Maybe you should just go back to your McDonalds job,and leave these stories for the more educated to discuss...especially the ones that are able to read the news, and see how it is now affecting everyone in the country and the world one way or the other! Bye,Bye Now... Thursday, Sep 18 at 8:20 PM Wake up wrote ...One word-EDUCATION. If you have an education or training in a specific field, you won't have to rely on these unskilled labor and sales jobs. Northern Indiana is getting left behind in the ever-growing world of technology and unless people around here quit moaning over the "good ol'days" and get busy learning a trade or getting a degree, their future isn't going to get any brighter. Thursday, Sep 18 at 5:15 PM Anonymous wrote ...IN 2000 THIS COMPANY WAS RANKED IN THE TOP 200 SMALL BUSINESSES BY FORBES MAGAZINE. FORBES CAN SURE PICK EM. WHERE DID IT ALL GO WRONG? ONE WORD "GREED" Thursday, Sep 18 at 4:49 PM Lou Ann Sather wrote ...My husband worked there for 12 years and now he is unemployed. After 50 years working here and there the prospects of finding one will be hard for our family. Why is this company closing its doors? There should be something left to do for workers that are unemployed. It seems this season of closing assembly plants and factories is up and going no where for workers. Can people realize that if we move will cost us much more if we work right here? Add a comment |
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Monday, Sep 29 at 12:11 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Miller is no longer owned by Coachmen. They were purchased by a minority / women owned company in DeSoto, TX. They are a military contractor and are very successful purchasing modular buildings from Fleetwood and constructing barracks on several Army bases acrosss the country.