GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM) -- Dematic has officially decided to relocate its manufacturing operations in Grand Rapids to its facility in Monterrey, Mexico.
The company, a leading global supplier of integrated automated technology, software and services to optimize the supply chain, made the announcement Tuesday morning.
The relocation will impact approximately 300 positions in fabrication, assembly, warehouse and plant administration. It's a move workers say they were expecting. Back in January, the company announced that it might be moving and would try to work with the union. Scott Wahlfeldt, President of UAW Local 1485 says it's frustrating. "It's not fair, they don't care. There is no loyalty to the workforce that got them to where they are."
Wahlfeldt says the same workers took a 50% pay cut back in 2009 to keep the plant in Grand Rapids. He says there is no way they can compete with the pay in Mexico. "You now, there would be no way we could get close to that. Legally, we could not work for that amount of money."
According to a press release, more than 900 positions in sales, engineering, research and development, solution development, customer service, and administration will not be affected.
The transition will likely occur over the next several months, and is expected to conclude by September 2016.