Major Rockford (IL) employer sends layoff notices to employees (450 jobs)

[UpInArms]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/10036532.htm?1c

ROCKFORD, Ill. - Workers at the Amerock Corporation in Rockford have been told they will be out of a job in 60 days.

The maker of hardware for cabinets and windows announced in February that it planned to close the factory and lay off all 450 of its factory workers, but did not give a time line for the cuts.

"We knew this was coming," said Christine Gable, an 18-year employee in the distribution department. "What are you going to do?"

Some workers received notices Wednesday, with others expecting word Thursday or Friday, Gable said.

<snip>

Outsourcing has been a main factor in the decline of industrial employment in the Rockford area. Between 1998 and 2003, the region lost 11,800 manufacturing jobs.

...more...

right on the cusp

[JaySherman]

1. I went to college in that part of Illinois.

Local industry is the lifeblood of region. There's not much else out there. I shudder to the think of the wasteland our Heartland is being turned into by this crooked bunch of republican criminals.

I swear anyone who votes for these thugs and assists them in maintaining their grip on power deserves what they've got coming to them.

[mbperrin]

2. Woo-hoo! That * job machine is going now!

There go more jobs!

[BiggJawn]

3. "Y'all need to go back to SKOOOOL!"

"Ya'll needs to git RE-TRAINED! Larn t'be key-punchers, or mebbe cow-punchers! Mah Opponent Sez we gut no JOBS! Ah submit to him, Mah ARMY is Hirin'!"

So will Amerock be smiling when their reputation goes down the toilet as people start returning that shitty Chinese hardware with the peeling plating and rubber parts that stink?

[bleedingheart]

4. I nearly spit my tea all over my keyboard...

"Mah ARMY is Hirin!"

I can almost hear him saying that...

[kysrsoze]

5. Rockford just can't seem to get a break

I haven't seen any positive news from that city (or the overall area) in a long time. I believe there was also Motorola plant out that way for awhile that closed a few years back.

[Sara Beverley]

6. I hope they are registered to vote!

This should be 450 solid votes for Kerry.

[SlingBlade]

7. I live and work in Rockford

It’s true that we have gone through and continue to go through very tough times
Amazingly it’s a hot bed of conservative ideology lately but be aware there are still
many of us here who will not let the lies pass without close inspection.

Our daily news paper has an online forum where this battle has been fought every day
since the Bush misadministration has soiled this land of ours.
We have I’m afraid a virulent type of conservative hate think which must be stopped.

For those of you who wonder why or the extent of this hate, Stop on by this forum and take a peek.
We are fighting hard here as I know you are there, Go Kerry

http://cf.rrstar.com/forums/index.cfm
:dem: