The Advocate and Democrat

Sea Ray Boats laid off 150 workers at its Vonore plant Thursday as part of a major restructuring plan by parent company Brunswick Corp. to save an annual $300 million dollars.

Though the local economy seems to have suffered with high gas and food prices like the rest of the nation, Monroe County Economic Development Director Shane Burris said to his knowledge Thursday’s job cuts at the Vonore boat manufacturing plant were the first layoffs of that magnitude locally.

In November 2007, Sea Ray reported to the Monroe County Economic Development Board the Vonore plant employed 675 people at that time, making the boat factory one of the county’s top employers.

Thursday’s news of the layoffs was tough for the workers who lost their jobs effective immediately.

One worker who lost her job said it appeared like the company had no choice when it announced the lay off of 150 workers at the Vonore plant.

“They seemed like they hated to do it,” she said.

The worker said her manager was almost in tears when he talked with her about the bad news.

The worker said Sea Ray paid them for the upcoming July 4 holiday and said the laid off workers would be paid for vacation time not taken.

She said the company also told them they had already signed up the laid off employees for unemployment benefits.

Earlier this month, Sea Ray said it would shut down production for a month at its Vonore plant and the four-week halt will be in effect until July 28, when remaining workers will return.

Brunswick Corp., based in Lake Forest, Ill., said poor sales were the culprit forcing the company to shrink its workforce and reduce the number of manufacturing facilities.

According to the company, the total unit sales for powerboats in the United States in 2007 were at their lowest point in 40 years.

Brunswick officials said the company plans to reduce the number of its North American plants from 29 to 17 or fewer by the end of 2009.

That will require the closure of four plants in addition to the eight factory shutdowns already completed or previously announced. The parent company said nothing Thursday about the future of the Vonore plant.

tommy.millsaps@advocateand democrat.com | 337-7101

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