Snorkel to lay off workers
Snorkel International has announced that it will lay off up to 125 workers by the end of September at its factory in Elwood, Kan.
The move is a reaction to decreased demand for the company’s aerial lift equipment, according to Dan Jenkins, spokesman for Snorkel’s parent company, the Tanfield Group. Mr. Jenkins said increased costs in the construction industry have slowed many projects, which leads to fewer contractors ordering Snorkel products.
Information regarding compensation for employees who lose their jobs and the total number of layoffs should be available once Tanfield makes its final decision in late September.
Snorkel currently employs about 450 workers in Elwood.
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If I am not mistaken, didn't Snorkel's employees just form a union? Very Interesting!!!
Posted by Mr_America on August 18, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)How's that union working out for you?
Posted by devinbroncs123 on August 18, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)Hmmmm. Interesting. My wife's best friend's husband got laid off on Friday. They gave him a months pay but that's it. Big employers like this need togive their employees more heads up. It's rough when the doors close and you have limited time to find another job. I feel sorry for those that are losing them, in this economy that's the last thing they need.
Posted by HenryAllison on August 18, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)Oh, the Snorkel workers had plenty of warning to get something else lined up. The union vote was on 27 June. My only surprise is that it took management this long to clean house. At the time Steve Nickel , a rep for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers was quoted as saying “The union won.” Too bad the Snorkel employee are taking in the shorts.
Posted by StJoeMoe on August 18, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)The first round of layoffs effected non-union salaried employees.
The economy if bad, really bad, and I'm concerned it is going to get worse before it gets better.
A lot worse....
Posted by n8dogg on August 18, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)Its because of the union that people were laid off. They had to make cuts in every department so that the guys that were so mistreated could get more money because its hard to stand around and talk all day for only $17.00 an hour. They should at least get 22.00 an hour for all that hard work.
Posted by heckler91 on August 18, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)Snorkel started having problems long before the union vote. Alot of it started when they opened back up and rehired the same management that run it in the ground before.
Posted by Ram3 on August 18, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)Snorkel did not have a union when they shut down in 2002. So how can Snorkel's poor management blame the union? They Cannot. If they got a months pay they were luckier then people in 2002
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