American icon Brunswick Corp. has announced that it is ceasing production of bowling balls in the United States and moving to Mexico. Citing high labor costs, the world's largest maker of bowling equipment plans to save between $5 million and $6 million annually. Brunswick said about 115 workers will lose their jobs as production is phased out over the next year or two. Brunswick's departure was not unexpected. It had been negotiating with its unionized workers for some time.
See "Bowling ball plant moving to Mexico", Robert Manor, Chicago Tribune, June 16, 2005