GE: NO LAYOFFS IN SALEM

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

DATE: TUESDAY, February 25, 1992                   TAG: 9202250079
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY BUSINESS EDITOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
GE: NO LAYOFFS IN SALEM
General Electric Co. said Monday improved production at its Drive Systems factory in Salem has removed the threat of layoffs.
At the plant's annual employee meeting, general manager Tom Brock delivered upbeat reports and several employees described progress on improving productivity.
The company closed the session at the Salem Civic Center to the press, saying it intends to release a statement later this week.
Brock remains committed to avoiding layoffs, said Emory Brown and Diane Smith, two shop workers who were interviewed after the meeting. Last fall, Brock told plant workers that waste must be eliminated to avoid layoffs.
The plant is downsizing by retirements and attrition, Smith said.
Brock continued to stress his "Save A Starfish" theme, Smith said. The slogan comes from a story about a boy who throws fish back into the ocean because each fish "made a difference," Brock said. His theory is that if GE employees do little things for customers, they will make a difference and save jobs, said Smith.
Brown, who works in quality control, said the "overall picture I got from the meeting is that business looks good and we're on the uphill swing" from the recession.
He said Brock emphasized "that we have to give better service to customers so deliveries will be on time."
Brock "has really turned the plant around . . . by revamping old equipment and making improvements. He's going to get us the tools to work with," Brown said.
Several employees said the meeting brought good news for both the plant and its personnel.
Gerald Meadows, president of Local 161, International Union of Electronic Workers, said he didn't attend the meeting because he had union work to do. He complained, however, that GE "is farming out work to other companies."
Smith, the union's secretary, said contracting work out of the plant is a big problem. Under the current contract, plant managers are supposed to talk with union representatives before work is farmed out, "but sometimes they forget."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB