Another glass plant closes doors

Date: 28 December 2004

Christmas got a little bluer for the local glass industry this week with the closure of yet another plant.

Houze Glass Co. in Point Marion, Fayette County, closed Wednesday after 102 years of business, said Brenda Murray, vice president of Local 547 of the United Steelworkers union, which represents 44 workers at the plant.The factory employed another 12 or 13 nonunion workers, Murray said.

The region lost two glass plants in November, with the closure of Glenshaw Glass in Shaler and Anchor Glass in South Connellsville. These larger plants had a combined work force of more than 600.

The glass industry is suffering due to a variety of factors, including overcapacity, rising production costs and markets that are shifting to plastics and other alternative materials.

Houze Glass officials could not be reached for comment yesterday. Murray said workers were notified Dec. 8 about the possibility of a Dec. 22 shutdown.

"I think what made it harder for everyone is, we knew we had no jobs but they continued to want us to work," she said. "There's people who have been there for 40 years."

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