Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 19, 1991 TAG: 9104190520
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV16 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Cathryn McCue
DATELINE: FAIRLAWN LENGTH: Short
Former AT&T workers receive training and job-hunting help from the Employee Resource Center, a joint effort of the company and the union.
Almost 1,000 workers were laid off last year when AT&T closed its Pulaski County plant.
The center was set up as part of the union's labor contract, and soon would have been closed.
"We had so many people involved in it," said CWA Local 2261 president Bill Burton. "We drew up a proposal . . . They agreed with it."
He said the center spent $667,184 last year helping the idled workers with tuition, job searches and other services.
"This long-term commitment by AT&T reflects a caring attitude toward our former employees and the community in effectively coping with the plant closing," said Tom Loner, AT&T executive for the New River Valley Economic Development and Community Support program.
Burton said that of the 898 hourly workers laid off, 95 transferred to other AT&T plants, six have left the area, and 400 to 500 have received training and education at community colleges.
Only 61, or 9 percent, have found other jobs. And some of those have been laid off from their new jobs - at places such as Hubble Lighting Inc. or the Radford Army Ammunition Plant - where they have no seniority.
Of the 172 managers laid off, Burton said 124 transferred and some have gone back to school.
Former AT&T employees are eligible for up to $2,500 for tuition, training, job placement and relocation expenses for up to two years.
by CNB