Weber President Silent About Report of Closing

Earl Williams, president of Burbank-based Weber Aircraft, declined Monday to confirm reports that the company will close its Burbank plant within 18 months because of high labor costs.

Williams would not comment on earlier reports that he informed the company’s 1,000 workers last week that the plant would be shuttered.

However, in a prepared statement, Williams told employees that “in order for us to successfully compete for future business in our marketplace over the next five years and beyond, we must significantly reduce costs, including labor rates, which we believe are far too high here in Burbank for us to be competitive.”

Weber officials are scheduled to meet with union officials today, but Williams would not say why the meeting was called.

Weber, a unit of New Jersey-based Kidde Inc., is one of the country’s largest manufacturers of aircraft cabin equipment, including seats and kitchen galleys.

The company suffered four years ago when aircraft manufacturers experienced a drop in orders for new aircraft.