In a significant blow to local employment, more than 400 workers are facing job losses following the planned shutdown of two Adient manufacturing plants in Tennessee. Adient, a major player in the automotive seating industry, has announced it will permanently close its facilities in Maury and Henderson Counties this summer. This decision came to light through Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices filed with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The official notices were submitted on April 22 and 23, confirming the company’s move to cease operations at both sites.
The closures are reportedly tied to the loss of a crucial contract with General Motors. According to John Rutherford, president of the local chapter of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Adient’s agreement to supply seating components for Cadillac vehicles assembled in Spring Hill was not renewed. Rutherford shared that even union leadership was caught off guard, especially since negotiations for a new labor contract with the company had just begun. The unexpected change has sparked concerns and conversations about job security and the future of automotive manufacturing in the region.
Layoffs have already begun at both locations. In Maury County, 95 employees were laid off starting April 17. Henderson County followed with 320 job cuts beginning April 21. Both facilities are set to officially close their doors by June 27, leaving hundreds of families and individuals uncertain about their next steps. The impact of these closures will likely ripple through local economies, affecting not just the workers themselves, but also businesses and services that depend on their patronage.
Support services are being organized to assist the displaced workers during this transition. Employees from the Maury County plant, represented by UAW Local 1853, will be aided by the Southern Middle Local Workforce Development Area’s rapid response team. Meanwhile, since Henderson County employees are not unionized, the Southwest Local Workforce Development Area will handle support coordination for them. These response teams are designed to connect affected workers with resources, job retraining programs, and potential employment opportunities to help mitigate the blow of sudden unemployment.
Efforts are also underway to find alternative job placements for those impacted. The UAW is actively working to help transition some workers to other factories, including a nearby facility in Spring Hill that has taken over seat production for GM. However, despite repeated attempts, Adient has not provided a public comment on the closures or on plans for supporting their former employees. Those seeking more information are encouraged to reach out to the Dislocated Worker Unit at (615) 253-6355 for assistance. The sudden closures highlight the volatile nature of manufacturing contracts and the widespread effects such changes can have on communities.
