From employees to city leaders, many were shocked by Master Lock announcing the closure of its Milwaukee plant at 32nd and Center Streets this week. “Actually, it’s shocking,” Master Lock operator Eddie Lofton told 12 News. “I didn’t have any guidance,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. Thursday morning, Mayor Johnson had yet to hear from the Master Lock leaders. The company is well known for making locks, and has a rich history in the city. According to UW-Milwaukee, 1,300 employees worked at the facility in the 1980s and 1990s. A decade ago, a chief toured the site. “President Obama came to Milwaukee, he came to Master Lock. They invited him in,” Johnson said. “They were celebrating functions in Wisconsin, to Milwaukee, to a neighborhood that was hit hard like that. My aunt actually showed President Obama around.” In 2012, there were 12 news cameras as then-President Barack Obama hailed the Master Lock for bringing 100 jobs back from China to Milwaukee. “This company has made the most of the tremendous opportunity that exists right now to bring jobs and manufacturing back to the United States of America,” Obama said during his 2012 visit. Now, the company said that 375 local Master Lock jobs will transfer to its other North American and global manufacturing operations. It is a fact that does not sit well with the local leaders. “A century of work in Milwaukee has evaporated in this way,” Johnson said. The company’s headquarters will remain in Oak Creek. Master Lock declined WISN 12 News’ request for an interview Thursday. A company spokesperson provided this full statement on Wednesday: “Master Lock today made the difficult decision to close our operations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in March 2024. As part of this decision, the company will move its entire manufacturing capacity from its Milwaukee plant to other North American and global manufacturing operations.” In addition to external suppliers.In addition to optimizing our own resources, Master Lock’s external supplier capabilities have advanced significantly and demonstrated the ability to deliver exceptional quality and service that will collectively benefit our stakeholders.”This decision is not a reflection of the skills, performance, or commitment of Milwaukee’s workforce, nor has It is taken lightly. Instead, this is an opportunity to continue to enhance the resilience of our supply chain, maximize the potential growth of the business and maintain our competitive edge into the future. “Although the transition will take an extended period of time and the plant will not close until the end of March 2024, we wanted to provide as much notice to our colleagues as possible. The company is committed to assisting all displaced workers throughout the process by working closely with UAW Local #469 While compromising effects to ensure a smooth transition, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the entire Milwaukee team and the greater Milwaukee community for their dedication and commitment to the Company.”
From employees to city leaders, many were shocked by Master Lock announcing the closure of its Milwaukee plant at 32nd and Center Streets this week.
“Actually, it’s shocking,” Master Lock operator Eddie Lofton told 12 News.
“I didn’t have any guidance,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said.
Thursday morning, Mayor Johnson had yet to hear from the Master Lock leaders.
The company is well known for making locks, and has a rich history in the city. According to UW-Milwaukee, 1,300 employees worked at the facility in the 1980s and 1990s. A decade ago, a chief toured the site.
“President Obama came to Milwaukee, he came to Master Lock. They invited him in,” Johnson said. “They were celebrating functions in Wisconsin, to Milwaukee, to a neighborhood that was hit hard like that. My aunt actually showed President Obama around.”
In 2012, there were 12 news cameras as then-President Barack Obama hailed the Master Lock for bringing 100 jobs back from China to Milwaukee.
“This company has made the most of the tremendous opportunity that exists right now to bring jobs and manufacturing back to the United States of America,” Obama said during his 2012 visit.
Now, the company said that 375 local Master Lock jobs will transfer to its other North American and global manufacturing operations.
It is a fact that does not sit well with the local leaders.
“A century of work in Milwaukee has evaporated in this way,” Johnson said.
The company’s headquarters will remain in Oak Creek.
Master Lock declined WISN 12 News’ request for an interview Thursday. A company spokesperson provided this full statement on Wednesday:
Today, Master Lock has made the difficult decision to close our operations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in March 2024. As part of that decision, the company will move its entire manufacturing capacity from its Milwaukee plant to other North American and global manufacturing operations as well as to third-party suppliers. Improving our own resources Master Lock’s third party supplier capabilities have advanced significantly and demonstrated the ability to deliver exceptional quality and service that will collectively benefit our stakeholders.
“This decision is not a reflection of the skills, performance, or commitment of Milwaukee’s workforce, and it was not taken lightly. Instead, this is an opportunity to continue to enhance the resilience of our supply chain, maximize potential growth of the business and maintain competitiveness into the future.”
“Although the transition will take an extended period of time and the plant will not close until the end of March 2024, we wanted to provide as much advance notice to our partners as possible. The company is committed to assisting all of its displaced workers throughout the process by working closely with UAW Local #469 during compromising influences to ensure a smooth transition.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to the entire Milwaukee team and the greater Milwaukee community for their dedication and commitment to the Company.”
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