Mercury Marine To Close Stillwater Plant

News On 6

UNDATED -- Workers at Stillwater's Mercury Marine plant are given a final slap in the face.  Mercury Marine now plans to close its plant in Payne County, putting 380 people out of work.

Last Friday, after three votes, union workers in Wisconsin approved a contract with the boat motor maker which ended plans to move those jobs to Oklahoma.  Now, the jobs in Stillwater will move to Wisconsin.

"I wish they would extend the same courtesy to the workers in Stillwater. I bet if Stillwater could vote three times everyone would say yes," said Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel.  "Perhaps we know how you're feeling right now, and I do feel sorry for them, but you know we had a lot more to lose.  A lot more jobs to lose so, we just felt we had to fight as hard as we could to keep Mercury Marine here."

Over the weekend, the company's spokesman said, "Eventually we'll close the Stillwater facility."