
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 19, 1990                   TAG: 9005190049
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: FAIRLAWN                                LENGTH: Medium

ATTRITION RATE INCREASES AS AT&T CONTINUES PLANS TO SHUT DOWN

More than 100 employees have left AT&T's New River Valley Works so far, either to take new jobs or to return to school. Another 86 workers have given notice and are expected to leave by Sept. 1, said Tom Loner, a spokesman for the microelectronics company.

The attrition rate at the plant has increased as officials get closer to closing the operation, which will leave 1,000 workers looking for new jobs.

Officials announced in January that they would be closing the operation and moving about 90 percent of the work to Dallas.

"Our attrition rate had been running about six [workers] a week and it's increased to 10 a week," Loner said.

Of the 129 workers who have left the plant so far, three have transferred to Dallas and 37 have gone to other AT&T plants across the country.

Another 40 workers who have given notice have jobs in Dallas and 18 have jobs at other AT&T plants, Loner said. The other workers left the company altogether.

Loner said he expects more employees to announce plans to leave before Sept. 1.

"They only have to give a week's notice," he said.

Meanwhile, employees in Fairlawn have been working a considerable amount of overtime - about 25 percent, Loner said.

"We've been working nights, midweek, Sundays, holidays - almost unlimited overtime to build our stock," he said. But that should slow down in the next month or two.

The Fairlawn plant started moving out some of its machinery and equipment last month, and crews are beginning to move into the heart of the transfer.

About 12 tractor-trailer loads of equipment have been moved to Dallas, he said.

by CNB