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Layoffs a shock toBy RON DEV1TTLethbridge HeraldManage me nl at Japan Radio Company in Lelhbridge continued to deny persistent rumors of layoffs right up to the moment it gave more than 200 workers their pink slips.“There were always rumors going around iherc were going to be layoffs, but (management) always said there wouldn’t so it Oariwt baileycame as a shock,” said one of 36 employees facing permanent termination.The company announced Wednesday another 197 employees were temporarily laid olT for a seven-week prnduclion line shutdown.The production line worker, who didn't want to be identified, was told the future with the plant was bright when she was hired last year.“They made it really sound like we'd get a raise in a year,” she said. “You pretty much had a feeling il was a permanent job. i never would have lt;|uitmy other job if I had known this was going to happen.”Garnet Hailey, vice-president and general manager of JRC in Lethbridge, said the temporary shutdown of Ihc two production lines is due to a glut of cellular phones on the North American market. The lines are expected to begin production again June 19 and those temporarily laid off are expected to be rchircd.During I he shutdown period the company will cease production of its hand-held and ihrce-watt cellular phones.At a general meeting Wednesday morning, employees were given an envelope which indicated the time of their next meeting that day. The 9:30 a.m. meeting meant permanent layoffs, II a.m. mean I temporary layoffs and the 1 p.m. meeting was for the remaining employees not directly affected by the layoffs.“They said they had an overload of product and not enough orders and not enough money to keep everybody,” said the former employee.A severance package and unemployment benefitsworkerswill be worked i^ul with each of the 36.! The employee said they were told the layoffs were based on seniority. Several of the workers were hit hard by,the news. Many have families and mortgages, said the employee.“I’m putting my husband through university andbasically have to find another job or he’ll have to quit,” she said.. A second employee, temporarily laid off, said the rumors began months ago.“There were! rumors flying around since Christmas there would be layoffs in April,” said Ihc employee, who also didn’t want to be identified. The second employee said news of the layoffs hadn’t totally sunk in by late Wednesday.• «Tt came as bit of a shock. A few- people were kitid of mad (management) couldn’t manage themselves very well,” said the second employee.The employee Said ihose temporarily laid off are confident they will be back in June. The company is paying for benefits for those expected to return.■ JRC took over operations of financially troubled NovAtcl in April 1994.
Newspaper Details
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Thu, Apr 06, 1995
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Chinook A.
AB, USA 19 Oct 2022
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