The end has finally arrived for the glass plant in Northeast Portland. Owens-Brockway, a subsidiary of Ohio-based Owens-Illinois, announced July 30 that it’s shutting down its facility at 9710 NE Glass Plant Road and permanently laying off 90 workers.
Around 80 of the workers are represented by United Steelworkers Local 112M. Four are represented by Local 330.
The plant is noticeable to motorists on I-205 for its distinctive roof, which resembles the head of a wrench. It’s built that way for efficient ventilation of the high heat involved in melting glass.
The plant was opened in 1956 and added a recycling center in 1980. It produced glass bottles for beer and wine. As late as the 1980s, it employed close to 400 workers, but in recent years it’s frequently laid off workers and closed temporarily.
Now, permanent layoffs were to begin Aug. 5, parent company O-I Glass told state officials July 30. All laid off employees will receive at least 60 days of pay and benefits, O-I said.
A warehouse at the same address will continue operating.
O-I is also indefinitely suspending operations of a furnace in Los Angeles.
“These closures are a part of the company’s Fit to Win initiative to reduce redundant capacity and begin to optimize its network,” the company said in a statement.
