IC Corp.’s parent company, Navistar, told employees Thursday it is ceasing bus production operations at its Conway plant.
Navistar Spokesman Roy Wiley said, “We have to consolidate our bus assembly operations into one facility. It’s driven by market factors.”
He said the economy makes for a “terrible time” for the industry, with school districts not being able to purchase many buses.
“Unfortunately for Conway, Tulsa is a much newer facility,” he continued. “Conway’s been around a long time. It costs a lot more to operate. We still want to have a presence and will have a presence in Conway. It will be a smaller operating footprint. We’ll be fabricating parts for school buses.”
Conway Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brad Lacy said, “It’s horrible news. I think it’s horrible on a variety of levels. That number of people losing their jobs is a horrible thing. I think emotionally, too, this community has been in bus production since the 1930s, and it was something we identified with our community. When you lose that, you lose a piece of your history.
“I think we just have to regroup, probably next week, and try to assess what employment opportunities may be out there for each of these people. I think it’s important to understand that an employer like them draws people from a wide area. This isn’t just a Conway issue. This is a Morrilton issue and a Heber Springs issue and a Marshall issue. It will have a regional impact.”
The WARN Act requires that plants notify employees in advance of pending mass layoffs. Wiley said up to 477 jobs could be affected by layoffs or separation, but layoffs will not start until Jan. 4. Subsequent layoffs could follow in February and March, depending on circumstances, he said.
“The important thing to remember is we will maintain an operating footprint in Conway. We will be doing something, and they will be working, just on a smaller scale,” Wiley said. “Conway is a good place to be located. We just have to consolidate. The curtailment of jobs is the result of the necessity to consolidate into one operation.”
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
IC Corp. ceasing bus assembly at Conway plant
I'm sad to see this news, but fortunately, Conway has a strong, diversified economy, and I'm absolutely confident in the city's future. Each year, more businesses are discovering that Conway is a great place to locate their sites.
Let's encourage the new businesses like H-P and Blue Cross to consider hiring the people who have kept those assembly lines running for decades. They are experienced, hard-working, and dedicated to creating high-quality products and services.
That's just great
It would be great to think that HP or Blue Cross could simply absorb these poor souls but building buses couldn't be more different than being on the Geek Squad....Between the great loss in jobs and the sky rocketing taxes and crime Conway is doomed.....It's time to move....
Many Years Gone
From my past experience and on hands trial I really don’t see HP hiring anyone from a factory. These people tend to go after fresh College students. Most people have been with this company for years and this is all they know. Still haven’t heard if IC Corp is going to give anything for the employees that has been with this company for many years besides a boot out the door. This a sad thing for Conway. Its not like this company has asked for help from Faulkner County and was denied. Who’s to say that Blue Cross will also want to absorbed former employees from this factory?
Manufacturing vs Tech
I agree with warped. I don't see IC workers being hired at HP. I'm sure their hardworking employeess, but maybe they're better skilled to work at the Cat plant in LR. Manufacturing and Tech companies are totatally different cultures. It's a nice idea, but I don't see it happening. Has anyone been hired from the UCA job fair? That's the sad thing about working in manual labor,when they shut down, it's like thanks for working here and bye-bye. At least, Alltel gave out severence packages.
I just want the facts about news as it happens. I can do without the opinions.
You'd be surprised...
Although I don't know much about H-P's operations in Conway, they might have more synergies with a bus assembly line than one might think. The paint booths that apply a perfect coat to a bus body might be though of as a giant ink-jet printer. And everyone who works on the bus assembly line knows how critical it is for the line to keep moving during peak production periods. I've known people who've transferred from the bus plant to Acxiom over the years, and they've done well. The community needs to resourceful and think of ways to transfer the decades of knowledge and skills these folks possess to the newer industries.
AmTran - 1943?
I was reasonably sure that I remembered when Ward Bus became AmTran, and I seriously questioned the date of 1943 that is listed on the time line that accompanies this article. I googled AmTran, and indeed, the company wasn't even formed until 1980.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AmTran
GravelGertie
Where were the incentives?
If the Log Cabin would do a little research and ask some questions, I think they would find the truth as to why International Trucks originally went to Tulsa instead of expanding the Conway plant. Rumor has it that when their top officials were brought to Conway to talk of expansion that they were shunned by our city government. How about it LCD?
Shunned away
I am going to agree with "citizen of the crooked town "
they talked expansion but the state and county would not do much. So this left them to look else where. Now Oklahoma gets all the buses.
Douglas Ward
Where the heck have you been. How do figure Conway has a strong economy? I guess you havn't heard that the city can't afford to buy new police cars and fire trucks because the economy is WEAK. Open your eyes.
Police cars for Conway!!???
Whta do we need more cop cars for anyway?? The lazy good for nothing cops we have are just fine with what they got. To sum it all up our good for nothing cops think they should each have their own car to ride around on their off time and talk to married women at the coffee shops and gas stations where they go to get their free coffee and food even on their off days!! (And yes you know who you are)
Overall, Heartfelt
Overall, the news is sad. No matter where we speculate the blame lies, I have a heartfelt compassion that is felt for all that will loose their jobs.
I have been through a plant closing before and it is not easy. You have to regroup, remanage and move on. For many, this is the only job they have known for several years. Many there came out of highshcool 30+ years ago. I have several friends involved and hopefully, the severance package will be adequate and helpful for whatever is needed. I pray that everyone that is affected is able to re-employement.
As we continue to work through these last months at the plant, I know it won't be easy, but Smile, it increases your face value.
:)
"It is what it is..."