In a significant development for the local workforce, over 400 employees are set to lose their jobs as Adient, a manufacturer of automotive seats, has announced the permanent shutdown of two of its factories located in Tennessee. The closures, which will take effect this summer, were disclosed through WARN Notices submitted to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. These notices were officially posted on April 22nd and 23rd, detailing the impending closures of the facilities situated in Maury and Henderson counties.
The decision to close these factories stems from Adient’s loss of a contract with General Motors, which previously involved supplying seats for Cadillac vehicles produced at the Spring Hill manufacturing plant. John Rutherford, the president of the local United Auto Workers (UAW) chapter, expressed his shock upon learning about the closure during negotiations for a new contract with Adient that took place last month.
The layoffs commenced at the Maury County facility on April 17th, impacting 95 employees, while the Henderson County site began its layoffs on April 21st, affecting a larger group of 320 workers. Both factories are scheduled to cease operations permanently on June 27th.
Employees at the Maury County plant are represented by UAW Local 1853, which has prompted the Southern Middle Local Workforce Development Area’s rapid reaction team to engage with both the affected workers and the employer. Conversely, the workforce at the Henderson County facility does not have union representation, leading to the involvement of the Southwest Local Workforce Development Area’s rapid reaction team to assist in coordinating support for those employees and Adient.
Notably, the UAW represents a substantial portion of the workforce impacted by the layoffs in Maury County. Rutherford indicated that efforts are underway to facilitate the recruitment of these affected workers into another facility in Spring Hill that has recently begun producing seats for General Motors. For individuals seeking further information or having inquiries regarding the layoffs or factory closures, the Dislocated Worker Unit can be reached at (615) 253-6355.