Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 16, 1991 TAG: 9103160155
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Short
A company official confirmed that the Christiansburg plant had laid off workers, but would not say how many.
"They occurred, just leave it at that," said industrial relations manager Ed Zamer.
"We geared our employment levels up to a certain level in anticipation of orders that did not materialize," he said.
The lighting-fixture manufacturer hired about 40 people last year, he said, bringing the employee total to more than 500. But the sluggish economy has slowed the company's sales. Zamer didn't know if more layoffs would be forthcoming.
Representatives of the Machine and Furniture Workers union, AFL-CIO Local 160, which represents the factory workers, could not be reached for comment.
"It's an awful time to getlaid off," said one of the 10 employees who were told that their last day would be March 22. He asked not to be named because he didn't want to jeopardize any chance he'd have of getting called back.
"I know what I'm going to do," he said. "I'm going to try to find a job. I'm good at looking."
He said he worked at AT&T in Pulaski County for seven years before that plant's shutdown put him out of work. "Then I got a job at Hubbell, and now I'm laid off again."
Hubbell laid off 16 hourly workers about three weeks ago, and 15 salaried employees earlier this month, he said.
"I think they're all waiting for the other shoe to drop."
by CNB