Poloncarz statement on Ingersoll Rand's intention to end manufacturing in Cheektowaga

County executive, ECIDA working to save estimated 280 jobs at Broadway facility

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz on Wednesday issued the following statement in response to Ingersoll Rand’s announcement of its intention to end manufacturing operations at its plant in Cheektowaga. The company has proposed cuts of an estimated 180 hourly workers and 100 salaried workers, but plans to maintain a technological center at the Broadway site that would still employ 150 workers.

Poloncarz is working with the Erie County Industrial Development Agency to identify ways to assist Ingersoll Rand and avoid the job cuts.

“As soon as my office learned of the proposed job cuts by Ingersoll Rand at its Cheektowaga facility, we reached out to Ingersoll Rand’s corporate headquarters to commence a discussion on what it would take to keep the manufacturing portion of the plant open,” he said. “Job cuts should always be a last resort and are unconscionable when a company, such as Ingersoll Rand, has been profitable and recently negotiated a new collective bargaining contract with International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 330.

“As has been the case with such companies before, my administration and the ECIDA stand ready to work with Ingersoll Rand to identify ways to change this decision, which will have disastrous results for 280 workers and their families.

“We must stand with our neighbors who face this unnecessary job loss and must come together as a community to preserve these jobs, and I will do everything in my power to do so.”

WIVB-TV Channel 4 reported Ingersoll Rand as saying, “This was a difficult decision as we take all actions that affect our people very seriously. We are committed to supporting employees with competitive severance packages, on-site employee assistance programs, job placement services and the opportunity to apply for jobs at other company locations.”