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February 20, 2009

Loparex to cut 53 jobs

By Trent Moore

Staff Writer

Loparex LLC has announced layoffs for more than 50 employees at the company’s 115,000 square-foot Cullman plant, according to a letter sent from Loparex to the City of Cullman which was recently obtained by The Times.

Loparex is a global manufacturer of polycoated and silicone-coated papers and films, which are used in various pressure sensitive adhesive applications. The company has been operating in Cullman since 1968.

In total, 53 of the approximately 130 jobs at the local plant are being cut. Once the layoffs are complete, the company workforce will be down almost 40 percent from where it was originally.

The positions affected run the gamut from packers in the plant, to office receptionists. The majority of positions being eliminated will be coater helpers, quality assurance technicians and packers.

The layoffs are expected to occur in late April, according to the letter, and will likely be permanent.

Loparex officials declined to directly comment on the layoffs, though the corporate office did release a statement on the matter.

“Loparex has taken actions to streamline its manufacturing operations in Cullman, Ala., due to worsening global economic conditions,” Chief Operations Officer Jack Taylor wrote in a statement to The Times. “These actions are unfortunate, but a business necessity and by no means a reflection on the loyal and dedicated Loparex employees of Cullman. Loparex considers this a private matter between its employees and it will be handled accordingly.”

Sandra Rhodes, with the Alabama Career Center System of Cullman, said a rapid response team from the Department of Labor will be coming to speak with the employees sometime soon about different benefits and programs available for laid off workers.

“They (rapid responders) come from Montgomery whenever a huge amount of people are laid off,” she said. ”They tell them about different things available to laid off workers, how to apply for unemployment and what job training is available. They give out a lot of information to the workers.”

Rhodes recommended the Loparex employees who will be laid off stay with the company until the layoff date.

“Unless they have a good job offer, they need to stay until they’re officially laid off,” she said. “That way, they will be eligible for more training and assistance.”

The Loparex news comes as many industries across the nation and locally are making similar cuts to deal with the sluggish economy.

In the Cullman area alone, Rhodes said she has seen a noticeable increase in laid off workers seeking job training opportunities and unemployment benefits.

In the most recent unemployment numbers released — dated December 2008 — Cullman County posted a 6.1 percent unemployment rate. Though higher than previous months and years, the local numbers are lower than the rest of the state, as Alabama posted a 6.7 percent unemployment rate for the same period.



‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.

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