Solo Cup Closing Will Affect 300 IBEW Local 1553 (Springfield MO) Members

Solo Cup to close Springfield plant by end of year

By Karen Culp
News-Leader

Solo Cup, formerly Sweetheart Cup, will close its Springfield plant by the end of the year.

The plant, which now employs 331 people, makes thermal form cups for the food service industry and for sale as retail products. It is closing as part of its parent company's restructuring plan.

"We have reached this difficult decision as a result of a thorough review of our operations," said Ronald L. Whaley, president and chief operating officer of Solo Cup Company. "To better serve our customers, we are transforming our plants into multiple-technology facilities which will also result in better alignment of customer demand and supply."

Employees should be able to continue working at Solo Cup through the end of the year, said Angie Chaplin, Solo spokeswoman.

Mike Brumley, business agent for IBEW Local 1553, said the union represents 300 members at Solo Cup. The company has been much larger; when Brumley began working there in 1983, he estimated the plant employed more than 1,200.

"It's pretty devastating," Brumley said. "They just told us they weren't closing and then they turned around and did it."

The plant opened in 1953 and for years was one of Springfield's top employers.