Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 25, 1993 TAG: 9307260308
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Gardner-Denver announced the closing of the Roanoke facility on that date. A seven-month job search here netted me two interviews with companies that felt I was overqualified for the positions available. I expanded my job search throughout Virginia, and will begin work in Charlottesville later this month.
I'm angry at Cooper Industries for mismanaging the Roanoke facility, and wasting the efforts of hundreds of good people. I'm angry at Reedrill, Inc., for moving the operation to Texas. Approximately 30 employees (not 80 to 100 as previously announced) who transferred to Texas are working for a company that cannot properly service the equipment in the field. The guts of the company were left here.
Finally, I'm angry and frustrated at the near impossibility of finding acceptable employment in Roanoke. I am moving to Charlottesville; our accounting manager, purchasing manager and materials manager to Lynchburg; two product engineers to Florida; the master scheduler and senior buyer to North Carolina, etc. These individuals wanted to stay here, but could not survive economically in the area.
I have often read that Roanoke's failure to attract new industry will result in an exodus of qualified people from the area. This is not a future problem; it's happening now. And for my co-workers and me, the die has been cast. We will miss you, and you will certainly miss our abilities, our children and our tax dollars. ROBERT TILLEY VINTON
by CNB