‘It’s devastating’: Spinrite in Listowel ends production on Friday

Friday is the last day of major production at Spinrite yarn manufacturer in Listowel, with 150 jobs lost. CTV London’s Scott Miller reports.

Deb Podhorny and Ana Davidson are heading into some of their final shifts at Spinrite in Listowel. The co-workers have more than 75 years combined working at the legacy yarn maker.

“It’s devastating. I have known nothing but this place since I was 17 years old. It’s my life,” said an emotional Podhorny, who worked at Spinrite for 49 years and six weeks.

The production line at Spinrite will run for the last time on Friday, after the company announced the closure of their Listowel manufacturing plant in May. Spinrite opened in 1952 in Listowel, growing to be one of the largest makers of yarn in North America.

“Before that, it started in 1913 with Maitland Spinning Mills. So, it’s a legacy business here in this area for 112 years. So, it’s so sad to see it go,” said Melissa Verkley, a former Spinrite employee.

Verkley, who appeared in a promotional video for Spinrite just a few years ago, was laid off in January. She’ll now be joined by 140 other production line workers, many of whom are generational Spinrite employees.

“Spinrite has fed a lot of families. Both my mom and my sister worked here as well,” said Ana Davidson, who has more than 25 years on the job at Spinrite.

“We’re all crying a lot. It’s very emotional. Like Ana said, we’re a family. We spent more time with the people inside there than you actually do with the people you live with in your house,” said Podhorny.

A handful of Spinrite employees will be staying on for the next couple of weeks to tie up loose ends in production, said Davidson. But essentially, major production ends on Friday.

Spinrite’s retail location will close too, but the Listowel distribution centre will remain open keeping a few people employed, but a far cry from Spinrite’s peak employment in Listowel of more than 300.

“It was comforting. I knew my job, and I knew it well. And I’m going to miss that. Now, I have to start over,” said Davidson.

“A lot of us that were laid off earlier this year are still looking for work. And it’s a small town, so there’s a few opportunities, but not many,” said Verkley.

“I just thought Spinrite would be here forever and it’s not going to be. It’s not how I pictured my retirement,” said Podhorny.