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Friday will be a day in which a lot of people in Pulaski County and throughout the New River Valley will be dreading, as the first round of layoffs at the Volvo Dublin plant begins. It was originally announced that 1,100 people would be laid off starting May 16 and that the New River Valley plant would switch to a single shift. However, that number is a little lower than first announced.
According to UAW Local 2069 President Lester Hancock, a total of 1,037 will be laid off. “Come Friday, about 700 people will be laid off,” Hancock said in an interview Wednesday evening. “The remainder will be laid off on May 30.” In a phone interview Monday with Volvo spokesman Jim McNamara, he did confirm the layoffs would start on Friday. When he was asked how many would be laid off exactly on Friday, his response was, “I have no additional information.” Hancock added that these layoffs were only temporarily and would only be lasting about four (4) months. “The economy has got us in bad shape,” noted Hancock. “We are hoping things will improve in the months to come.” Right now the layoffs involve hourly employees. Hancock told EverythingNRV.com that some salary people would be laid off at a later date. However, he did not know how many, or when that would take place. The workers being laid off will be those hired between late 1997 and this year, according to the local UAW president. Hancock also confirmed that the plant would be going to a single production shift in early June. In addition to state unemployment benefits, union workers will also receive an extra $200 per week from the UAW. Currently about 2,900 people work at the New River Valley Plant.
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