Bridgestone Americas prematurely closed its La Vergne tire manufacturing plant on July 2, ending a 54-year run in Rutherford County.
Previously planned to close at the end of the month, the company sent an internal memo July 2 saying the plant would be “ceasing production operation effective immediately,” according to a Bridgestone statement obtained by the Tennessean.
“The La Vergne team’s commitment to performance, efficiency and delivering on commitments enabled us to execute against the set target earlier than expected,” the statement said. “In the spirit of continuing to operate in good faith, teammates are being given the remainder of the month to transition either into retirement or a new career.”
In early June, the company notified 658 of its employees who will lose their jobs beginning July 31 as the company gears up to close the plant. With the closure coming sooner than expected, the company will continue to pay and offer benefits to its team members until the end of the month.
According to a WARN notice filed with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, hourly manufacturing employees at the facility are represented on behalf of the United Steelworkers union with a collective bargaining agreement in place.
Negotiations with the United Steelworkers (USW) are ongoing, according to the company’s spokesperson.
“Teammates are eligible to apply for other roles within the organization,” said another statement released earlier this year. “USW Master union teammates have preferential hiring rights at the Des Moine, Akron, and Russellville, Arkansas plants. The maintenance union does not have preferential hiring rights.”
The company is partnering with a local workforce agency to host a job fair for its employees June 23 at Motlow State Community College.
Opening its doors in 1971, the then-Firestone plant became a part of the Bridgestone umbrella following a 1988 merger. The plant was Bridgestone’s first domestic factory and its closure marks a major dent to Rutherford County’s manufacturing workforce.
La Vergne Mayor Jason Cole said in a previous statement he was mournful about the plant’s closure, but is devoted to continuing to expand business development in partnership with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. In June, he said multiple company’s have reached out to Bridgestone with interest in buying the property.
Additionally, in January, Bridgestone Corporation announced continued workforce cuts are to be expected across corporate, sales and operational teams. The details about the local impact have yet to be announced.
Layoffs and buyouts aren’t just coming out of Bridgestone Americas in 2025, Nissan, Dollar General, Perdue Farms, International Paper, FedEx among other companies have filed with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.