Monaco Coach Confirms Layoffs
Piot Staff Report
WAKARUSA � The jobless rate will increase in the Wakarusa area with the layoff of more than 850 employees at Monaco Coach Corp.
The Monaco Coach Corp, headquartered in Coburg, Ore., employs nearly 6,000 people. About 50 percent of those workers are employed at factories in Elkhart, Nappanee and Wakarusa.
Workers were told on last week they could finish out the week.
Monaco spokesman Mike Duncan said layoffs will affect production works as well as office staff.
Of the 850 laid-off employees about half of those will be from Elkhart and Wakarusa. About 200 Wakarusa residents will be out of a job beginning Monday.
A number of Nappanee residents will also be out of work beginning this week.
Monaco will cease production at all its Indiana plants this week. Production will drop about 20 percent when it resumes Monday.
Some RV plants in Elkhart County were working overtime a few months ago. Duncan said orders dropped off. The start of the war decreased business even further.
Last year was a strong year for the RV industry even though the nation was in a recession most of the time. The economy has finally caught up with the business.
Travel trailers and fifth -wheels have been the hottest items in recent months. Mo-torhomes sales have been luke warm, according to Monaco officials.
Laid-off workers who can find work will probably have to settle for less wages. Some laid off Monaco employees may have trouble finding a job. The layoffs will likely push Elkhart County�s unemployment rate past the 5 percent mark.
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