Mexico's Cemex closes U.S. plant, lays off workers

[douglas9]

Source: Reuters

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexico's Cemex, the world's No. 3 cement maker, is shutting another U.S. plant and laying off workers as the U.S. recession deepens, the company said on Friday.

The Davenport plant in California, which produces just under 1 million tons of cement a year, has been hurt by a sharp decline in new home construction in the state and cement demand is expected to further decrease, Cemex said.

"Based on the current recession and these market conditions, we've had to make some hard decisions and will be temporarily ceasing operations at the plant effective March 9, 2009 ... until conditions improve," Cemex said in an e-mail to Reuters.

"As part of this, we will be forced to temporarily lay off employees. While we will maintain employees on an active pay status until March 9, lay offs could begin sooner," the company said. The plant has some 120 employees.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USTRE50871L20090109

[biopowertoday]

1. our econony needs a jump start NOW (past due)

[madrchsod]

2. st mary`s plants in wisconsin and illinois

are closed or reduced operations...the plant in my town closed last month.