Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Firestone extends voluntary layoff

Firestones Prescott facility has extended a voluntary layoff period for several employees but the situation is nothing more than a normal manufacturing cycle.

That word came from Prescott Firestone Plant Manager Bill Smith last week.

Smith said the company was faced with too much inventory and a voluntary layoff seemed the best solution.

We asked for volunteers thats be willing to take six weeks off, Smith said. We had more volunteers than we needed.

Smith said there were 42 employees who took advantage of the offer of time off and were slated to return to work in the early part of May. Smith said those 42 were given the opportunity to return to work or to take another four weeks off and 39 of the 42 volunteered to stay out another month.

Its a manufacturing situation, Smith said.

The cycle is typical of companies that manufacture a product, according to Smith. Firestone is even more susceptible to the cycles of demand because roof installation slacks off in the winter months. Smith said the weather this spring has delayed the building season in some areas even more.

Smith said the layoff situation is not an indication that the plant is in trouble. Even with the 39 people currently out for the layoff, the facility employs more people than were on the job in 2004.

And we expect to bring them all back at the end of four weeks, Smith said.

Smith said those who took the layoff were from all shifts and all departments. He said layoffs were approved by seniority and has the blessing of the local union.

The inventory issue is not plant-wide, according to Smith. He said that some departments were overstocked while others are continually struggling to meet demand.

Smith said he doesnt believe the situation has created a great deal of concern among employees. He said most realize that its simply a part of the manufacturing business.

Smith said the company has no plans to close the Prescott facility.

I dont think we would have invested $11 million in a distribution center if that was the case, Smith said.