Law firm investigating Arconic layoffs in Lafayette
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Chicago-based class-action law firm Strauss Borrelli PLLC is investigating what it says is a potential violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act by Pittsburgh-based Arconic.
The aluminum products manufacturer last month notified the Indiana Department of Workforce Development that it plans to lay off 163 employees at its Lafayette facility.
Arconic told Inside INdiana Business that it closed the tube mill department at the facility, which led to the layoffs.
The WARN Notice filed with the state on Feb. 28 said the layoffs would take place on April 6. However, Strauss Borrelli claims that Arconic failed to provide the employees at least 60 days’ notice before conducting the layoffs as required by the WARN Act.
“The WARN Act is a federal law that requires certain employers to notify their employees, in writing, at least 60 days before a plant closing or mass layoff takes effect,” the firm said. “As a result, we believe Arconic employees may be entitled to sixty days of severance pay and benefits.”
Arconic did not respond to a request for comment from Inside INdiana Business.
A spokesperson for the company previously told IIB that the layoffs are the result of “external market factors,” primarily the loss of two key customers of its automotive driveshaft production.
The Lafayette facility, located at 3131 E. Main Street, manufactures aluminum extrusions for the automotive, aerospace, commercial transportation, industrial, packaging and building and construction markets.