Layoff talk fills air with uncertainty
HERSHEY CO. RESTRUCTURES
Layoff talk fills air with uncertainty
Hershey workers, community fear local plant losses
Friday, February 16, 2007
BY DANIEL VICTOROf The Patriot-News
It is what The Hershey Co. didn't say about its planned job cuts that generated so much angst and fear among the blue-collar workers who make the candy.
The company yesterday announced that 1,500 jobs will be cut within three years, but workers don't know which ones. The company said it will build a plant in Mexico.
The workers who make the candy that helps define the region's identity described the mood inside Derry Twp. plants yesterday as tense or fearful.
"Nobody knows nothing," said George Lehman, who has been with the company for 27 years, after finishing his shift in wrapping. "It's all just hearsay."
Kay Brown, also ending her shift in wrapping, said the news made it difficult to keep up with a busy day in the plant.
"That's all I'm hearing about," she said.
The Hershey Co. hasn't said which plants could see a reduction in positions. A company spokesman said some plants will be expanded, some will be downsized and some will be closed.
The company scheduled a meeting at 7 a.m. today at the Hershey Theatre for the employees of the 19 E. Chocolate Ave. plant. Workers at the Reese's plant were gathered early yesterday, but one worker said officials did not answer a series of questions.
Dennis Bomberger, business manager of Chocolate Workers Local 464, said he's worried that local plants could be closed.
"You can just hope it's not going to be the ones here," he said.
Bomberger said he would hope "sentimental value" would play a part in protecting the workers at the plant at 19 E. Chocolate Ave.
With 2007 being the 100th anniversary of the Hershey Kiss, he said, "Wouldn't that be a heck of an anniversary?"
The smell of chocolate often fills the air of Hershey, and the company is similarly ingrained in the community.
Layoff talk fills air with uncertainty
Hershey workers, community fear local plant losses
Friday, February 16, 2007
BY DANIEL VICTOROf The Patriot-News
It is what The Hershey Co. didn't say about its planned job cuts that generated so much angst and fear among the blue-collar workers who make the candy.
The company yesterday announced that 1,500 jobs will be cut within three years, but workers don't know which ones. The company said it will build a plant in Mexico.
The workers who make the candy that helps define the region's identity described the mood inside Derry Twp. plants yesterday as tense or fearful.
"Nobody knows nothing," said George Lehman, who has been with the company for 27 years, after finishing his shift in wrapping. "It's all just hearsay."
Kay Brown, also ending her shift in wrapping, said the news made it difficult to keep up with a busy day in the plant.
"That's all I'm hearing about," she said.
The Hershey Co. hasn't said which plants could see a reduction in positions. A company spokesman said some plants will be expanded, some will be downsized and some will be closed.
The company scheduled a meeting at 7 a.m. today at the Hershey Theatre for the employees of the 19 E. Chocolate Ave. plant. Workers at the Reese's plant were gathered early yesterday, but one worker said officials did not answer a series of questions.
Dennis Bomberger, business manager of Chocolate Workers Local 464, said he's worried that local plants could be closed.
"You can just hope it's not going to be the ones here," he said.
Bomberger said he would hope "sentimental value" would play a part in protecting the workers at the plant at 19 E. Chocolate Ave.
With 2007 being the 100th anniversary of the Hershey Kiss, he said, "Wouldn't that be a heck of an anniversary?"
The smell of chocolate often fills the air of Hershey, and the company is similarly ingrained in the community.
Labels: Hershey, Jeff Altman, layoffs, The Big Game Hunter
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