Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 9, 1993 TAG: 9301090020
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
JOBLESS STUDY TEXAS
More than 100 workers at Gardner-Denver Mining & Construction Division are considering offers to leave Roanoke for jobs with the Texas company that is buying the business.Fewer than half of the division's 400 employees reportedly have been offered jobs by Reedrill Inc., a small drill manufacturer in Sherman, Texas.
The Texas company offered "in excess of 100" production and office jobs, "a combination" of positions, according to Peter Johnson, employee relations director for Gardner-Denver.
Johnson did not have an estimate of the number expected to accept a move to Texas. But a source in the region's economic development effort said about half of those offered Texas jobs are expected to take them.
Many of the employees have wives or husbands with jobs or family ties in the Roanoke Valley and must evaluate their chances of finding other work here, probably at lower pay. Gardner-Denver, a unit of Cooper Industries of Houston, has a reputation for good benefits.
While they weigh the choice, the Gardner-Denver workers are meeting at the Virginia Employment Commission's Roanoke office to learn about the availability of jobs in the region and jobless benefits provided by the agency.
Entry-level salaries at other jobs aren't as high as at Gardner-Denver and it will take time to build seniority in other firms, said Marjorie Skidmore, job service manager for the VEC in Roanoke.
Skidmore said her message for the Gardner-Denver workers is about "the reality of jobs and wages here."
Although 200 jobs were added by Roanoke manufacturers in November, the latest available figures, few factories are hiring with the exception Vitramon Corp. and Valleydale Foods, which are expanding. Hourlong information meetings were held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and more are scheduled next week at the VEC.
"We feel they need this information whether they stay or go," Skidmore said.
Johnson said assembly of drills continues at the factory to fill orders placed before the sale.
The company's Nov. 20 announcement of the sale of the division to Reedrill said the manufacture of Gardner-Denver product lines will be transferred to Sherman by the year's second quarter.
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers and other city officials were unsuccessful in their attempts to get Reedrill and its parent company to reconsider moving the drill line.
Several Gardner-Denver employees said "everything is up in the air" while workers offered jobs are deciding whether to take them. "They can't get enough to go," said one man who would speak only if his name were not used.
Another worker said she would pack her bags for Texas in a minute, but she wasn't offered a job.