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Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Eva Casteñeda, a 26-year employee of Maxxim Medical Inc., met her husband on the job. Now they are both out of work.
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Vinyl glove plant closes
Some 148 employees are now out of work
By Nathan R. Huff
Los Gatos may not be known for its manufacturing industries, but for the last 35 years hundreds of Los Gatans and other valley residents have made their living at the Maxxim Medical Inc. vinyl glove plant.
On Oct. 29, many of the longtime plant employees will be leaving work for the last time. Citing overseas competition, higher tax rates and rising labor and equipment costs, Florida-based Maxxim has decided to shut down the plant.
Many of the plant's 148 employees, some of whom have never worked anywhere else, must now face the challenge of finding new jobs. Some will be able to retire. Others will begin searching for jobs for the first time in decades.
The plant, which last year provided Santa Clara County and Los Gatos with more than $227,000 in property, personal property and improvement taxes, was started in San Jose by vinyl glove pioneer Dr. William H. Abildgaard.
The plant moved to its current Los Gatos location on Winchester Boulevard in 1964. Shortly thereafter, it was bought by Becton Dickinson.
The majority of plant employees have been working together for more than 20 years. Eva Casteñeda, a heavy-equipment operator, worked for 26 years at the glove factory, starting at age 19. Six years ago, she met her husband at the plant.
"It's devastating," Casteñeda said. "It's very emotional because these are our family and friends; we grew up there together."
Casteñeda said plant employees believed management might cut one of the three eight-hour shifts at the 24-hour facility, and that the plant closure took workers by complete surprise. "This was very hard for all of us because we just didn't expect it," she said. "There was a lot of crying and hugging, and there still is."
Casteñeda said some will retire, while others, like her, intend to go back to school.
Maxxim spokespersons in Florida said employees would be receiving individualized severance packages, in addition to 60 days' pay and job placement and training programs. Plant manager Ed Strom declined to comment on the plant's closure, saying all press information was being handled by Maxxim officials in Florida.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
