NORTH ANDOVER - Andover folksinger Pat Scanlon led a crowd of former and current Alcatel-Lucent employees in song last night, but many didn't feel like singing.

Especially since the lyrics hit so close to home:

"Where did they go?

All the jobs we used to know?

They all went away when the factories closed

To China, Italy and Mexico."

About 70 union workers gathered at Northern Essex Community College, their first meeting since learning of Alcatel-Lucent's proposal to shut down the North Andover plant next year.

That would end the company's presence in town after 50 years. The company was known as Western Electric when it opened on Osgood Street in 1956.

About 500 employees are still at the site, where more than 11,000 people once worked. The company's proposal calls for transferring about 190 workers and laying off the rest.

Gary Nilsson, president of Local 1365 of the Communications Workers of America, said the company has told the union it has a chance to keep the plant open if the union can find $6.6 million in savings, but Nilsson said that is not a guarantee.

That would come down to about $33,000 per union employee. Nilsson said the union would try to find a way to achieve those savings without just taking cuts from the 250 union employees.

"We make money for them at North Andover. We turn a profit for them at North Andover," Nilsson said to applause.

Chief negotiator Ralph Maly said he plans to present a proposal to Alcatel-Lucent within the next several months that will show savings, including cutting floor space, manager pay and benefits.

"We will do what is necessary to come up with a comprehensive proposal," Maly said, but he doubted whether the company would accept it.

The current contract, which includes benefits for retirees, runs to 2012. Maly said the company can choose then not to renew the contract, affecting both current and retired workers.

Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini attended the meeting and said he is committed to rallying community leaders and politicians to get behind the union's cause of keeping the plant open.

"There was a time when everything was made here in America, a time when workers were the most important asset to a company," Fiorentini said. "Today, everything is turned around."

Workers who attended the meeting said it is a sad time at the plant.

John LeBlanc, 49, said the meeting was informative but he doesn't think there is much of a chance the plant will stay open. The Plaistow, N.H., resident has worked there 29 years.

"I think the writing is on the wall, no matter what the proposal is," he said. "The feeling in the halls is that we are going to be closing."

LeBlanc said he expects to start looking for a new job soon, but will wait to hear word on what happens.

"You never know, I guess. A miracle could happen," he said.

Gene Carrier, 49, was more optimistic. He said the problem is not knowing what is going to happen in the next several months before the union offers a package to save the plant and the company decides whether to accept.

His parents, uncle and cousin all worked at the North Andover plant. The Derry, N.H., resident said he will keep on working as if the plant will stay.

"We do very good work. We do the best work we can," he said. "Hopefully, we can keep it open."