Motorola Mobility Can Fire Workers, Keep Incentives Under Deal

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 21, 2011 7:40PM

Last month the state touted a $100 million tax incentive program that would keep Motorola Mobility's headquarters in Libertyville in exchange for the company's commitment to spending $500 million in research and development related to the 3,000 jobs at Motorola's plant over the next three years.

The Tribune obtained a copy of the contract that shows Motorola Mobility can keep the incentives so long as they maintain a workforce of 2,500 employees. Motorola's current workforce at their plant is 3,290 workers.

Uh, oh.

Gov. Quinn told the Tribune that Motorola promised to maintain a workforce of 3,000 "and we believe them." (Because why would a corporation want to lie to a politician?) Quinn said that having Motorola in Illinois as a result of the incentive contract is better than having them leave the state, but that the oral agreement for 3,000 employees is not binding.

Marengo Democratic Rep. Jack Franks thinks the possibility that Motorola could fire 790 from its workforce and keep the tax incentives is "outrageous."