Workers looking to be laid off
Updated: February 13, 2013
DANVILLE -- Letters say layoffs could be looming for workers at an area plant. FreightCar America sent out notices to employees this weekend. The company says to plan for cutbacks. WCIA-3's Jessica Shaw finds out why.
It's not the first time workers have gotten a letter like this, but those notices were about layoffs that were always temporary. Workers were rehired when business picked back up.
This time, families don't know if that will be the case. Kayla Hernandez came home to some bad news.
"It was in the mailbox, a big surprise."
Her husband's company of a year-and-a-half sent a letter announcing a pending plant closure or mass layoffs. Employers are required to tell workers at least sixty days in advance.
The letter says the company plans to cut down on workers at the plant on Cannon Street. They "anticipate these changes, when finalized, could be permanent." The last part is something Hernandez says she's never heard before.
"They've had layoffs in the past, never more than two weeks. It's hard then, and for this to say, this could be a forever thing."
It's disconcerting, especially with another one on the way.
"With people saying there's no more orders coming in and we're going to be laid off, he's already started putting his application out, but there's so many other people looking for a job. It's not going to be easy."
Those changes could happen as early as April. This plant employs about 250-people. Calls to corporate offices in Chicago were not returned.
It's not the first time workers have gotten a letter like this, but those notices were about layoffs that were always temporary. Workers were rehired when business picked back up.
This time, families don't know if that will be the case. Kayla Hernandez came home to some bad news.
"It was in the mailbox, a big surprise."
Her husband's company of a year-and-a-half sent a letter announcing a pending plant closure or mass layoffs. Employers are required to tell workers at least sixty days in advance.
The letter says the company plans to cut down on workers at the plant on Cannon Street. They "anticipate these changes, when finalized, could be permanent." The last part is something Hernandez says she's never heard before.
"They've had layoffs in the past, never more than two weeks. It's hard then, and for this to say, this could be a forever thing."
It's disconcerting, especially with another one on the way.
"With people saying there's no more orders coming in and we're going to be laid off, he's already started putting his application out, but there's so many other people looking for a job. It's not going to be easy."
Those changes could happen as early as April. This plant employs about 250-people. Calls to corporate offices in Chicago were not returned.
