(Williamstown, WV) Walker layoffs to begin (150 jobs to MEXICO)

[UpInArms]

http://www.mariettatimes.com/business/story/1110202004_biz001walklay.asp

WILLIAMSTOWN - Layoffs will begin this week at Walker Systems Inc. as the company prepares to close its local operations by March.
Fifty employees will lose their jobs at Walker, a division of The Wiremold Co., by Friday, said Neil Huck, general manager. Within the next three weeks, 150 employees will receive layoff notices, he said Tuesday.

"We were fortunate to have 30 volunteers of the 50 for this first layoff," Huck said. "Our workforce has behaved in a very professional manner and we are very proud of them."

<snip>

The layoffs are coming as operations in the plant are being moved to other locations. A good portion of equipment is being relocated within the first two weeks, Huck said.

Reports of illegal workers in the plant moving equipment were untrue, Huck said. Most of Walker's equipment will be going to Mexico and some of the staff from the Mexican facility have been visiting the Williamstown operation.

...more...

Layoffs announced since 11/2/04: 42,372

(edited to correct state name in headline :)

[McDiggy]

1. Anal retentive nitpick.......

That's Williamstown, WV. Not Ohio.

[UpInArms]

7. fixed my title - thanks!

and welcome to DU McDiggy!

:hi:

[bif]

2. Maybe Bush will take care of you guys.

Increase funding for job training, extend unemployment benefits, etc.

[Claire Beth]

3. yeah...trust the chimp n/t

[hatrack]

4. Yes, it's community college time yet AGAIN in Bush Country!

Just wondering if the mortgage company will accept homophobia and/or piety as a workable alternative arrangement for mortgage payments . . .

[PCIntern]

6. Yeah!

You guys can now go to Community College and learn a new trade. Maybe you could take up L.P.N.-ing and you could work in the medical field, wiping butts of sick patients whose excrement can only be described as fetid beyond all human comprehension.

Or you could learn to be court reporters...except that you have to have fantastic dexterity, good hearing and verbal skills, good knowledge of th English Language, and high verbal retention rate and attentin span.

Or you could just go on welfare and unemployment for the rest of your lives just llike those of whom you weree making fun all these years...

[mhr]

5. The American Dream - Slip Slidin Away

Maybe we should rename it The American Delusion.

[devilgrrl]

8. Go to church - god will take care of everything.

:eyes:

[Tanuki]

9. Pie in the Sky

This just reminded me of Joe Hill's song "The Preacher and the Slave," to the tune of "In the Sweet Bye ande Bye." It's just as relevant now as when he wrote it nearly 100 years ago!

The Preacher and the Slave
Long-haired preachers come out every night,
Try to tell you what's wrong and what's right;
But when asked how 'bout something to eat
They will answer with voices so sweet:

CHORUS:
You will eat, bye and bye,
In that glorious land above the sky;
Work and pray, live on hay,
You'll get pie in the sky when you die.
The starvation army they play,
They sing and they clap and they pray
'Till they get all your coin on the drum
Then they'll tell you when you're on the bum:

Holy Rollers and jumpers come out,
They holler, they jump and they shout.
Give your money to Jesus they say,
He will cure all diseases today.
If you fight hard for children and wife --
Try to get something good in this life --
You're a sinner and bad man, they tell,
When you die you will sure go to hell.

Workingmen of all countries, unite,
Side by side we for freedom will fight;
When the world and its wealth we have gained
To the grafters we'll sing this refrain:


FINAL CHORUS:
You will eat, bye and bye,
When you've learned how to cook and to fry.
Chop some wood, 'twill do you good,
And you'll eat in the sweet bye and bye.

[classof56]

13. Wow! This takes me back.

About 40 years ago I attended a Weavers concert in Denver, where they sang this song. At the end of the last chorus, "And you'll eat in the sweet bye and bye", the Weavers shouted "That's a Lie!" You're right--once again the words are relevant and they are still a lie.

Welcome to DU, BTW.

[Roland99]

10. It doesn't say the jobs are going to Mexico...

just some of the equipment.

[UpInArms]

14. gosh, you're right - that equipment is just going to go to

Mexico and .....

oh they won't use it, I'm sure - and with the equipment gone from here, you know those jobs are just going to miraculously reappear next week!

Huh?

[Yavin4]

11. More Bad News for the Red States

But hey, you stop the Gays from getting married. That's more important than your jobs, right? If Jesus wanted you to have a job, then you'd have one right?

[Politicub]

12. Nah nah nah nah

Hey hey hey

Good bye....

[KansDem]

15. I wonder how many of these are non-Union?

Local Union 2077 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers has been approved for trade adjustment assistance, which will provide opportunities for the union employees.

It wasn't clear from the article how many non-Union, if any, employees were affected by this. At least the Union is trying to help their members.

To those workers who are non-Union but drove the big pick-ups with the "Bush/Cheney'04" bumper stickers, I hope you like public transportation. Remember, if you miss your bus, they're be another along in 15-90 minutes (most of the time, maybe)...

[LiberalEconomist]

16. Hell, at least you ain't gonna hafta worry about no

homo liberals takin' away yo Bibles. Good! Serves the motherfuckers right. Yeah, I am hateful. Fuck 'em. Well, except for the good individuals who voted blue.