Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 21, 1993 TAG: 9301210198
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FAIRLAWN LENGTH: Medium
ARSENAL WORK GOES ON SOMBERLY IN MIDST OF LAYOFF
Though the mood was somber, it was business as usual at at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant Wednesday as 730 employees worked their last shift at the propellant plant."Everyone here is saddened," said Nicole Kinser, public affairs director for the arsenal. "Many of our friends and co-workers are leaving."
Hercules Inc., the government contractor at the plant, planned no special activities for the laid-off workers, Kinser said.
Col. Bill Forrester, the arsenal's commander, praised the laid-off employees for working hard the past two months even though they knew their jobs would soon end.
"I can't say enough about these employees; there are no bad employees leaving," he said. "Not one of them should hang their heads because this is through no fault of their own."
Forrester made his remarks in a speech to the Blacksburg Potpourri Club.
It's the plant's largest layoff since shortly after U.S. troops left Vietnam in 1974. With the Cold War over, demand for munitions has decreased and Hercules has laid off more than 1,300 workers in the last two years.
Wednesday's job cuts, however, were different from past layoffs that affected mostly production workers. The cuts went much deeper this time as 267 salaried workers and 463 wage workers lost their jobs.
Forrester said he's thankful that all employees laid off Wednesday are eligible for federal retraining benefits.
"Hopefully, they will soon be able to find work," he said.
Cutting 730 jobs is expected to save the Army $22.5 million. The arsenal will be left with about 2,000 workers, compared with about 4,500 in 1989.
It's possible that up to 350 more jobs could be lost before the end of the year.
Last month, Forrester said he got a phone call from Army officials saying that one of the plant's propellant lines would not be funded in 1993.
Arsenal officials are still waiting for written notification that the line will be discontinued.
Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abington, said an initial study indicates that the Army could discontinue one line of propellant at the Radford arsenal because it already has so much stockpiled.
"It's all very uncertain at this time," he said Tuesday. "Additional studies will have to take place before that decision will be made."