A federal judge rejected a request to temporarily block the relocation of the World Kitchen factory to Charleroi, saying there was no preliminary evidence that the move would violate antitrust laws.

“The court understands and recognizes the significant impact that the dismantling and potential closure of the Charleroi plant has had or will have on the employees working at the facility,” U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan wrote in Thursday’s decision. “Job loss can be very damaging for factory workers and their families.”

However, Ranjan stated that his job was to decide whether the job loss was irreparable.

“Here,” he wrote, “many employees have already left voluntarily (presumably for other more stable employment opportunities), and so it is unclear whether these employees would return to the Charleroi plant even if the Court grants an injunction.”

Earlier this month, a federal district court granted a petition from Attorney General Michele Henry seeking a temporary restraining order halting the facility’s closure.

While Ranjan did not directly prevent the move to the Anchor Hocking glass plant in Lancaster, Ohio, he noted that his decision still includes legal issues that need to be decided. It ordered both parties to engage in expedited mediation “including any attempt to reach interim agreements regarding the relocation of jobs, the continued operation of the Charleroi plant, or segregation arrangements while this litigation is pending.”

Daniele Byrne, vice president of Steelworkers 53G, which represents workers at the Corelle Brands plant, became emotional when contacted Thursday.

“They shouldn’t have hired a judge from Lancaster, Ohio,” Byrne said of Ranjan, who was born in Lancaster, Ohio. “I was very disappointed in the referee. He didn’t even listen. They told lie after lie. I was at that hearing and they lied over and over again.”

At a rally at Davies Ford in September, Byrne said he would keep fighting until he had no more fights left. He looked defeated on Thursday.

“Who are you going to fight?” he asked. “Who can I call?”

Councilman Larry Celaschi struggled to find words to share his opinion on Thursday’s decision.

“I don’t really have an answer,” Celaschi said. “I was trying to be confident. My heart goes out to the staff. When they get in there, they give everything. That’s the reward they get. I’m lost for words. I know one thing; I’m going to be very, very aggressive and I won’t give up until Charleroi gets what it deserves.”

In September, workers were told that factory operations would be moved to Lancaster, resulting in more than 300 employees being unemployed.

In the following weeks, numerous attempts were made to keep the facility open; This includes U.S. Senator Bob Casey, who sent a letter to Anchor Hocking CEO Mark Eichhorn urging him to reconsider the move.

Corelle Brands LLC sent a letter to Charleroi Mayor Gregg Doerfler in October setting the permanent closing date for February 28, with the first employee layoffs planned for December 9.

World produces kitchenware and tableware, including the Corelle and Pyrex brands. The plant’s history dates back to MacBeth-Evans Glass Co. It dates back to 1893.

Ownership has changed hands many times throughout its long history; The most recent owners were New York-based Center Lane Partners following the acquisition of Instant Brands’ appliance division. Anchor Hocking is another company under the Center Lane umbrella.

Jennifer Garofalo contributed to this story.