Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 18, 1994 TAG: 9401180202
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FAIRLAWN LENGTH: Medium
The announcements come at the same time the plant is refilling 230 production positions to make stick cannon propellant.
Nicole Kinser, public affairs officer for the arsenal, said the two actions weren't related.
"That has absolutely nothing to do with this," she said. Rather, the cuts are needed so the plant can realign amid defense cutbacks and position itself for the future.
Kinser couldn't attribute the job cuts to any specific event, but said they were part of an ongoing process of downsizing, reorganization and cost-cutting. Asked if more job losses could be expected, she said she couldn't comment.
As recently as Friday, Dick Best, general manager of the plant, characterized as "just rumors" reports that layoffs were imminent.
About 115 salaried workers will lose their jobs, Kinser said. They will include clerical workers, engineers and some managers.
"The cuts were all across the board," she said. "There were some high-level managers that were impacted." Their jobs will end Feb. 10.
For the wage-earners - about 62 of whom will be affected - there are options.
"All of those people will be offered jobs in production," said Ken Thompson, president of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers, Local 3-495. "No wage people will have to leave the plant unless they choose to."
Salaried workers with previous production experience also will have a chance at the production jobs, Kinser said.
Thompson said the wage jobs being phased out are "indirect people," utility and maintenance workers and craftspeople: electricians, millwrights, carpenters and the like. "They have decided that they can do with less people in those groups."
But with only about 60 of the 230 production jobs filled, there are plenty of openings for the employees who will lose their jobs, he said. The jobs would pay less than they earn now, but they're probably better than any job they could get outside the plant, Thompson said.
The production contract is scheduled to last about a year.
While the union jobs are held or lost depending mostly on seniority, salaried personnel are evaluated on the basis of experience, training and service, Kinser said.
"There is no dead wood to cut out," she added. "That happened long ago. These are all great employees."
A year ago this week, the plant laid off 730 workers, the largest cut in almost 20 years. Another 350 were let go in late March.
After Monday's cutbacks, the number of workers - more than 4,000 three years ago - will stand at 1,625, Kinser said, although that number could change depending on how many workers take the production job option.
by CNB