EDWARDS CO., Ill.—Disclosure has received confirmation that a significant number of layoffs have occurred at the Edwards County locations of Champion Labs/Fram filters.
Information received last night indicated that more than twenty supervisory or hourly personnel (23 during first shift was the exact number at least two of three sources associated with Champ) were pulled from duty yesterday, November 20, 2013 and told to go home. During second shift, this was also done, although estimated numbers from that shift were unavailable as of noon today.
Champion Labs was started in the 50s by a local man who brought jobs to the area and provided economic stability, but due to turnover in ownership over the years, Champ and its sister company, Airtex in Fairfield, has suffered greatly, with jobs being outsourced to Mexico six and seven years ago, and the whole thing pretty much going down the tubes after an anti-trust (price fixing) lawsuit was filed a few years back.
This information we’ve received pertains only to the Albion locations; there has been no word about West Salem’s site. Airtex suffered a similar downsizing a couple of months back.
It’s unclear whether these are temporary layoffs, or if this is a permanent move. Champ has been known to do such a thing before, in an effort to save money (they call it “attrition,” and term it temporary, but then don’t call people back, instead filling their positions with people who make less money). We’re working on obtaining more info; if we do, we’ll bring it.