KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The news that Procter & Gamble would be closing its doorsin 2020 has not tarnished the way many employees feel about the company they dedicated decades of their lives too.
Procter & Gamble began in Cincinnati in 1837. As they grew, the KCK plant was the first of its kind built outside of Ohio.
“I’ve been blessed to be able to work here, a place like Procter & Gamble,” Pete Curtis, a current employee said.
Curtis remains grateful to his employer despite learning Wednesday morning that Procter & Gamble’s will cease operating its iconic KCK plant in 2020.
“I guess the big surprise is how much time we have left before we actually close the doors on us,” Curtis said.
Curtis has worked at the plant for a decade.
He told 41 Action News that the 113-year-old plant is a place where you turn a job into a career.
“You didn’t think about college, military or anything like that. Those are the jobs you wanted to get. Those were the top jobs — Colgate and P&G — those were the jobs you wanted,” Curtis said.
You don’t have to say it twice to Johnie Phillips, a third generation Procter & Gamble employee.
“It’s been a great place to make a good living, good benefits. It’s a blue-chip company so I made my goal try to make my employment there,” Phillips said.
Phillips’ grandfather dedicated 30 years to the plant as did his father, Ken Phillips.
“He was a pipe-fitter and a welder for a number of years until he was injured, then he became a shipping clerk,” Johnie Phillips said.
His uncle served as part of the fire crew during his 32 years at the plant. Phillips himself retired after 29 years.
During that time, Phillips said he saw similar businesses decisions like the one announced Wednesday and emphasized that Procter & Gamble will help its employees navigate the weeks and months to come.
That’s something that Curtis knows as well.
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow right now but yet we have time to make plans for our future with whatever we have with what we can do,” Curtis said.
A Procter & Gamble spokesperson said today the company will negotiate details with the local union to help employees with the transition.
