On September 21, 2024, workers at the Corelle Brands glass manufacturing plant in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, rallied to protest the company's decision to close the facility by the end of the year, which will impact approximately 300 employees. The announcement of the closure, made earlier this month, has sparked significant concern among the workforce, with long-time employee Mark Yankosky voicing fears over job loss and the future of the community [78a51133].
Senator Bob Casey, alongside Republican candidate Dave McCormick, has pledged support for the affected workers. Casey criticized the corporate decisions that led to the plant's closure, emphasizing the need for accountability from Corelle Brands' leadership. He has requested a formal response from CEO Mark Eichhorn by October 1 regarding the closure and its implications for the local workforce [78a51133].
In a twist of political dynamics, McCormick has blamed Casey for the situation, accusing him of poor leadership and regulatory practices that he claims have harmed local businesses. This accusation has drawn a sharp rebuke from Bernie Hall of the United Steelworkers, who labeled McCormick's stance as hypocritical, given the broader context of corporate decisions affecting workers [78a51133].
In a significant move, Eichhorn announced that half of the jobs from the Charleroi plant would be relocated to Lancaster, Ohio, further intensifying the urgency of the workers' rally. Following the news of the closure on September 5, Casey's office reached out to union leaders and convened a task force to address the impending job losses and explore potential solutions [78a51133].
