Chicago — Home Products International - North America Inc. has notified the U.S. Department of Labor that it is laying off 146 workers at two Chicago plants, starting May 20.
According to the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act website, the cuts are being made at HPI's plants at 5507 S. Archer Ave. (96 workers) and 4501 W. 47th St. (50 workers). The latter address is listed as HPI's headquarters.
HPI did not return phone calls or emails requesting comment. Officials with the plants' union, Central States Joint Board, also did not reply to requests for information.
In March, the company said it was closing its metal ironing board operations at a plant in Seymour, Ind., to focus on plastics. HPI mainly designs and produces plastic housewares under the Homz brand.
The company ranked No. 52 in Plastics News' survey of North American injection molders, with estimated 2020 sales of $180 million.