Tulsa Plant To Close Its Doors

By Nicole Wiseman, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- A Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based company will be closing its Tulsa facility.

Shaw Tulsa Fabricators will shut down in August and the plant's 168 workers will be out of a job.

The Tulsa facility, located at 4140 South Galveston, focuses primarily on pipe fabrication and manufacturing.

Workers say they found out Tuesday that they will soon be without jobs. They say they're devastated and are worried about their families.

On Wednesday, it looked like business as usual at Shaw Tulsa Fabricators, but for the workers, their days on the job are numbered.

"They basically just said it's the economy, said that we have to shut down and they don't believe they'll be reopening," said Kelley Matson, a Shaw Tulsa Fabricators employee.

Kelley Matson was shocked to hear the facility will be closing in August.

Matson is a father of three and worried about his family.

"Lots of people are worried about our family and our kids, how we're going to make it with the economy right now. It's going to be tough," said Matson.

Many employees are wondering what they'll do from here.

"I mean, I don't know. It's like we're just waiting for the moment," said Matson.

"Can't really walk out," said Josh Fike, a Shaw Tulsa Fabricators employee. "How am I gonna eat, feed my kids? What's next? What's next?"

The Shaw Group's corporate office is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There are more than 100 facilities worldwide.

The corporate office issued a statement indicating the Tulsa facility is closing in an effort to address current business needs.

It reads: "Shaw values the contributions of all our employees to the success of our business, and the shutdown of a facility is not a decision we take lightly."

Employees have been told the Oklahoma State Dislocated Worker Office will help them find new work through job counseling, resume building and additional job search tools, but employees say they're worried if it'll be enough.

"As soon as all 160 people are gone, it's gonna be a dog eat dog world," said Matson. "I mean, we gotta do what we gotta do."

Employees say they were told August 8th will be their last day on the job. They've also been told they're welcome to apply for positions at other facilities within the company.