Layoffs begin at Indiana Carrier plant

INDIANAPOLIS» More than 300 Carrier Corp. workers were being laid off Thursday from the company’s Indianapolis factory as part of an outsourcing of jobs to Mexico that drew criticism last year from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The nearly 340 workers clocked out after their final shifts at Carrier’s gas furnace factory. Another wave of 290 workers will be let go by Dec. 22 under a timetable the company announced in late May.

Carrier announced in February 2016 that it would close the Indianapolis plant and cut about 1,400 production jobs in a move expected to save $65 million annually by moving furnace production to Mexico.

Weeks after Trump won the election, Carrier announced an agreement brokered by the presidentelect to spare about 800 jobs.

But some 600 jobs are still being eliminated by the outsourcing.

The Indiana Economic Development Board in March approved an incentive package that includes directing $7 million in state tax breaks and grants over 10 years to the company. As part of that deal, Carrier is investing $16 million for automation at the Indianapolis plant.

The company’s CEO has said that will ultimately mean fewer jobs at the factory.