par Industries

[WNYresident]

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20031104/3006588.asp

Were these people in amherst all along? Were they given tax incentives? Just curious.

[therising]

Par Industries (divioson of Viking Industries) bought a company called Ultra Tool and Plastics about 4 years ago. Ultra was started as a local business in the mid '60's.
Par has now decided to close shop in WNY in early 2004. About 200 jobs wil be lost.
To answer your questions:
1 - Yeas, I believe they've always been in Amherst. Their building, on Pineview Drive (Audobon Ind Park) is now for sale.
2 - No, they never received incentives. Maybe if they did they wouldn't be closing.

[WNYresident]

Next question is:

Did one of thier competitors in the area get tax breaks that would of made the palying field unfair?

OR did one of the trade agrees the goverment set up with some other country undercut thier product prices?

[Curmudgeon]

Did one of thier competitors in the area get tax breaks that would of made the palying field unfair?

Not really relevent because they manufactured plastic goods which were sold nationwide presumably. If it were local service or retail one could say their competitors were local. This type of operation competed nationwide, so an abatement from cheektowaga for "Stan's Tool and Plastics" is every bit as damaging as an abatement for "Cowboy Tool and Plastics" from Dallas, Texas.
Yes, the high taxes were probably what ultimatly killed this business. Now you have an empty building (that depresses the commercial real estate market further) and 200 unemployed.
What else is new?

[GG716]

PAR mainly makes injection molded plastic parts for the automotive industry.
Most are union (UAW) near or slightly above minimum wage jobs.
Only plant 1 will be closing, plant 2 (across the street) will remain open and by senority employees will be switching over to the plant 1. They are bringing in help and hope to find everone else emplyment elseware.
The reason for the closing is becasue they lost a major contract supplying Delphi.

This is what I have gathered from a current emplyee.

[Curmudgeon]

Most are union (UAW) near or slightly above minimum wage jobs.

One has to ask - why are these people even in a union if they are making minimum wage? I'd be pissed if I was making minimum wage and some union was asking for its dues out of my little check. The union is screwing the employees AND the employer.