Baldwin to lay off 180 at Arkansas plant

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

Dear List,
I found the following news tonight on the Internet:

<<Baldwin to lay off 180 at Arkansas plant

        Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. will dismiss three-quarters of its 245
workers in Conway, Ark., in the next few months as part of a plan to cut costs
and consolidate all piano assembly in one location in Trumann, Ark. 

        The layoffs affect about 180 workers at Baldwin's Conway plant. The
remaining 65 employees in Baldwin's high-gloss polyester finishing operation
there are not affected, Baldwin Chief Financial Officer Duane Kimble said
Wednesday. 

        Mr. Kimble said Mason-based Baldwin hopes to lease the space left
vacant in the Conway plant, though there are no tenants lined up. Baldwin owns
the building. Mr. Kimble also said there are no firm plans to close the Conway
facility. 

        Baldwin has about 300 employees in Trumann, in northeast Arkansas near
the Tennessee border, and will add about 85 jobs there as positions are
eliminated in Conway.>>

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin