ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996 TAG: 9610080040
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
The New River Rapid Response Team and New River/Mount Rogers Private Industry Council will open a transition center by mid-October for workers laid off from the Volvo-GM Heavy Truck Corp.
The center for dislocated workers has been set up at New River Community College in Room 230 of Edwards Hall.
Volvo announced a layoff of 50 to 75 hourly employees by Sept. 20, and 50 to 60 salaried employees by Dec. 31. Earlier this year, 190 employees were laid off but more than 40 subsequently recalled.
The latest reduction was blamed on sagging truck sales, and more could come if sales do not rebound. The Dublin truck plant generally has about 1,400 employees.
The Private Industry Council staff will be in Edwards Hall to provide full-service case management services for laid-off employees. They will be assessed and referred to appropriate employment services. They will also be able to access Virginia's Job Bank and America's Job Bank data on the Internet through facilities at the community college.
Rapid Response Team members are working with Ron Chaffin, chairman of the industrial technology division at New River Community College, for a quick response to the layoffs.
Some workers may need to enhance their skills to be competitive in the job market. Others may only need job search or resume assistance which will be available at the transition center.
Volvo management and the AFL-CIO are working with the Private Industry Council to get information to the workers affected on when the transition center facilities will be available.
When it opens, the transition center will be the first for the 13 localities in the region covered by the Private Industry Council from the city of Bristol east to Montgomery County.
O. Wayland Overstreet of Radford is chairman of the Private Industry Council. Ronnie Martin, also of Radford, is its executive director. Thelma Burris of Wytheville is area coordinator for dislocated worker program operations.
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines KEYWORDS: JOBCHEKby CNB