GOJO Industries cuts 150 jobs from Cleveland plant

CLEVELAND - GOJO Industries has announced it is eliminating about 150 jobs at its manufacturing facility in Cuyahoga Falls. GOJO, which invented and manufactures Purell hand sanitizer, had to cut jobs after a record-high year in 2009.

"We are sorry these reductions are necessary," GOJO President Mark Lerner said in a release.

The products manufactured by GOJO were at record highs last year during the H1N1 pandemic, and the company increased the number of employees to meet demand. The company ran shifts around-the-clock, but the end of the swine flu pandemic decreased the need for GOJO’s products.

"That was good news for public health but it means that many of our customers have our products stockpiled in their warehouses and we also have product waiting to be sold," Lerner said in the release. "We have now cut back on production and are no longer running as many shifts. Ultimately, that means we do not need as many employees."

Prior to reducing its workforce, GOJO had already cut back on hours, overtime, unpaid leave and temporary positions.