Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 17, 1990 TAG: 9007170413
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: FAIRLAWN LENGTH: Medium
Officials this week told employees who had been scheduled for layoffs in early August that they could continue working at the plant until mid-September. The workers had received pink notices in June telling them when they would be laid off - 58 at the beginning of August and 67 in the middle of the month.
The layoffs would have been the first since officials announced in January that they would be phasing out the New River Valley plant, putting 950 employees out of work.
"If they've already made plans, of course, they can still leave," said Tom Loner, an AT&T spokesman. "A number of them already have."
About 300 employees - almost a third of AT&T's local work force - have left the plant over the past few months to return to school, transfer to other AT&T facilities or take other jobs, Loner said. Another 200 have said they will be leaving soon.
The high attrition rate helped push back the layoffs, Loner said. So did an increase in customer orders. The plant manufactures electronic components, such as power transformers and inductors. Most of that work will be moved to an AT&T facility in Dallas by the end of the year.
In the meantime, though, the work is continuing at the plant. An extra month of work will give employees more time to make plans or seek new jobs in the area, Loner said.
Jerry Barnett, job services supervisor for the Virginia Employment Commission in Radford, said Monday that few manufacturing positions are open in the New River Valley.
"There are some job opportunities available, but they don't compare to what the AT&T people are accustomed to," he said. The plant offered workers an average of almost $9 an hour starting salary and a favorable benefits package.
"There are jobs in the service industry - but these jobs pay less," Barnett said. "They don't have the benefits.
"These people are experienced and trained in manufacturing. Their first preference is going to be for that type of work."
by CNB