Update 6:45 p.m.
The news that the McQuay International plant in Auburn will close by the end of 2014 came as a surprise to most people, and came at a terrible time as the city faces major financial problems.
Employees were called into a meeting yesterday morning as officials from Daikin McQuay's parent company had come to announce that the Auburn plant, which employs 352 people, will close in December 2014.
David Arnold is the President of the Cayuga County Labor Council, and he's telling us the announcement wasn't on anyone's radar.
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Update 6:00 p.m.
Auburn Mayor Michael Quill tells Finger Lakes News Radio that today's news is a big blow to the city.
What's next?
Finger Lakes News Radio and
FingerLakesDailyNews.com will continue monitoring this developing story.
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Auburn takes an economic hit today.
The Daikin McQuay Plant is shutting down.
The Regional Director for the United Steel Workers, Richard Knowles, says the union represents 277 of the plant's 352 employees. He was in meetings with the company Wednesday and will continue to meet with company representatives next week.
Work will be gradually shifted to a plant the company took over in Tennessee last year according to Company Marketing Vice President Don Winter.
The company is looking for operational efficiencies.
Winter declined to tells us how many workers they have at the plant in Auburn but media reports indicate hundreds. Winter says the company will work to cushion the blow to the city and employees.
The company manufactures heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products.
We have calls out to City leaders for comment.
