Tecumseh to lay off 450 at Wisconsin plant

8/29/2006

NEW HOLSTEIN, Wis. Tecumseh Products Co. said 450 employees will face layoffs in late October because of poor business conditions for the small-engine maker s factory.

The Tecumseh, Mich., company gave notice to state and union officials yesterday but did not state how long the layoffs, to occur Oct. 27, will last. The union represents about 525 employees at the plant.

Daniel Watson, a business agent for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers at the factory, said prospects for the New Holstein operations are dim. The firm had 1,500 employees there in early 2000 and 2,700 in 1970.