More Layoffs On The Way In The Tri
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AGC Layoffs
AGC Layoffs
Starting Monday AGC Flat Glass will lay off nearly three dozen people at its Greenland plant in Hawkins County.
A company spokesperson hopes the cuts made over the year will be enough to ride out the sluggish times.
“In April, it was a disaster,“ said Joe Broadwater, president, UAW Local 456, Church Hill.
Last spring, AGC Flat Glass North America eliminated 300 positions at its two locations in the Tri-Cities area, the result of shutting down one of its production lines.
“I found out Wednesday that we’re going to have to lay off some more people,“ said Broadwater.
This month, another 34 people from the Greenland plant will stay home. AGC spokesman Christopher Correnti says half complete the original lay offs last spring.
“These are folks who ended up working longer than anticipated which is certainly good,“ said Correnti.
AGC manufactures glass for automobiles, homes, businesses, and other specialty items. Correnti says the additional layoffs aren’t unusual for their winter business cycle.
“Half of them are just result of slow down in business,“ said Correnti.
But the additional layoffs leaves Broadwater is fighting falling morale.
“I’m doing my best to keep them upbeat and keep hoping,“ said Broadwater.
Although this time, it may not seem as bad as last time. Broadwater says the impact is still shattering.
“Those 27’s got two kids or they have a wife that don’t work or they take care of their grandparents,“ said Broadwater.
As for the future, it’s not as clear as AGC’s product.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen after this one,“ said Broadwater.
“We would certainly hope we would not have to lay off more people going into 2009,“ said Correnti.
Broadwater says he’s an optimist.
“If we can just make it through spring and get through this downturn in the economy, the housing has a lot to do with our business,“ said Broadwater.
And Correnti hopes the stimulus plan now being bantered about in Washington will mean an upturn in construction and the need for AGC glass.
The company is still considering consolidating production from another plant to Hawkins County. They believe demand for their solar glass will be high this summer.
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Reader Reactions
What could the local leaders do? Get them customers?
Hard to pay the rent with just hope. Best of luck and prayers to those people losing their jobs.
How many people or what local company has to close before the local leaders abandon their state of denial and actually start to lead?
i work at the plant ive been there for almost 18 years and i am threatened to lose my job.once i saw over a 1000 people working and now just over 200.the biggest blow to the people is the uncertain feelings that you may or may not have a job tomorrrow.people have delt with change ,with every thing this company through at us we overcame with overwelming status.we carry pride in the fact that we was the best now we carry the burden that tomorrow we might not be working at all.im not blaming jamie culberson i know he has done everything to keep the people working. i blame the owners yes the japanese who to benefit there selves and put money in there pockets saw opportunity and by the mis management of them we fell and keep falling.they have took this company from a status of the biggest in north america to almost nothing. i am proud of the people i work with that they have stood with me and overcome everything this company threw at us. mr. kitterman and all the ceo’s, presidents,and there assistants you take your million dollar bonuses your 6 and 7 figure salaries and you put yourself in the shoes of the average blue collar working family man. you know were you work to support your family not were you make more on a bonus than we make in a year.
YOU HAVE TOLD US STAND WITH YOU AND THERE WILL BE BENEFIT TO ALL.WE HAVE GAVE YOU OUR ALL AND YOU HAVE DISMANTLED AND PROVED THAT YOUR GREED YOUR IGNORANCE OF WORK AND WHAT GOES ON IN THE OPERATION HAS BEEN THE REASON AND ONLY REASON WHY WE ARE FALLING.
SO,THANKS TO THE PEOPLE, THANKS TO THE UNITED STEEL WORKERS, AND EVEN THANKS TO JAMIE CULBERSON FOR DOING ALL YOU COULD FOR THE WORKING MAN TO STAY WORKING.
Keep hoping.
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