Terex Shuts Waverly Crane Production with Short Notice

Terex suddenly shut down its crane factory in Waverly, IA, on Tuesday, planning to move production to Oklahoma, leaving roughly 175 workers wondering what's next

Jul 20, 2016

100 UAW workers at the Terex crane-manufacturing plant in Waverly, IA, were given less than an hour notice to vacate the premises when Terex closed the plant down with intent to move production of rough rerrain cranes, truck cranes and boom trucks to Oklahoma City.

Terex suddenly shut down its crane factory in Waverly, IA, Tuesday, leaving roughly 175 workers wondering what's next.

The company announced Tuesday it had immediately shut down manufacture of its rough-terrain cranes, truck cranes and boom trucks in Waverly, and expects to expand its crane production facility in Oklahoma City, OK, and commence assembling those products there in September. The company cited costs for the reason to consolidate operations in Oklahoma City, saying it is centrally located to optimize transportation of raw materials and finished products. It is also within driving distance of the shipping hub of Houston for import and export capabilities.

Kent Fisher, president of United Auto Workers Local 411, worked at the Terex Plant for more than 30 years. He says he never expected to leave with such short notice.

"And they told us if you have any tool boxes or any stuff you have to make an appointment to go get it," Fisher said.

About 100 unionized manufacturing workers, affiliated with UAW Local 411, were idled immediately and another 75 nonproduction, nonunion personnel, including commercial office, design-engineering and purchasing team members will be phased out gradually.

The Waverly operation was established in 1941 by brothers Vern and Wilbur Schield, and was the home of the Schield Bantam product line.

(more on Terex Waverly closing . . . )