More potential bad news at ATK

[countyguy]

Hearing from sources at ATK that in the few weeks 55-60 Union workers will be let go. No idea on salaried employees at this time. Our relative that has worked there for over 30 years has said this is the worse he has ever seen things during his career there.

[midlife crisis]

That's odd to hear because on a news program the night before the elections, they were reporting how great things are.  That unemployment is down to healthy numbers, jobs were plentiful, and the country was in great shape.  They also said it is expected that from here on out, it will only get better.

If true, that is great news.  I hope it is but I think they sort of put a spin on that information because it was the night before the elections........

[-jimmy z-]

Hearing from sources at ATK that in the few weeks 55-60 Union workers will be let go. No idea on salaried employees at this time. Our relative that has worked there for over 30 years has said this is the worse he has ever seen things during his career there.

My partner on the radio works there, he told me they were laying off again in the next couple of weeks.

[U2]

Look for further layoffs.  Defense spending is going to go down.  Its that simple. 

[countyguy]

Hearing rumors also of CSX laying off due to the fear of coal production being cut and mines being closed because of Obama's re-election. Apparently alot of what CSX hauls locally and regionally is coal.

[U2]

There are definitely concerns about that that are legitimate.  Additionally, alot of local coal was being shipped to China, which is in its first economic downturn in 3 decades.  Coal is being hammered right now.

[Lurker]

if you signed on for ATK job notifications you will have noticed over the last year that most of the jobs are moving out of the area

[midlife crisis]

So if all these places are laying off, why did the press paint such a rosey picture of the economy?

[Beefcake]

So if all these places are laying off, why did the press paint such a rosey picture of the economy?

The same could be asked of the storm Sandy..have seen the dignitary's saying what a fine job FEMA is doing. And you see the weather channel reporters out in the damage zones talking to the people who still have not received assistance or very little help

[Jedi Wise]

CSX lays off youngest employees most every year, sometime for months, sometimes longer.  Demand rises and falls, so they hire a lot of people, then lay them off during low manpower needs and call them back up when it picks up.  It takes time to train new employees and it's easier to call guys back up, rather than hire just what they need.  It wreaks havoc on the young guys, but from the corporate end, it's efficient.  Sometimes it backfires and they spend money to train a bunch of guys, they lay them off for an extended time, and they don't come back.  Working the road (where the majority of new transportation employees end up) is a lifestyle change, and if you get a taste of being away from your family, and get laid off before seeing the income and benefits, it's easy to see why a young man or woman with nothing invested would simply walk.

As for the rest of the industries, the economy is improving overall, booming in some places, but not in our back yard.  Defense spending is down after a decade of war winds down and demand is less, and coal was up for a time, and as said, the China demand has dropped off for now.
One's observation of the economy is usually only noticed from their front porch.  Allegany county is not a barometer for the nation as a whole, so good news on tv doesn't always reflect us.

[midlife crisis]

So if all these places are laying off, why did the press paint such a rosey picture of the economy?

The same could be asked of the storm Sandy..have seen the dignitary's saying what a fine job FEMA is doing. And you see the weather channel reporters out in the damage zones talking to the people who still have not received assistance or very little help

Surely dignitaries don't lie.................

[truce_m3]

CSX lays off youngest employees most every year, sometime for months, sometimes longer.  Demand rises and falls, so they hire a lot of people, then lay them off during low manpower needs and call them back up when it picks up.  It takes time to train new employees and it's easier to call guys back up, rather than hire just what they need.  It wreaks havoc on the young guys, but from the corporate end, it's efficient.  Sometimes it backfires and they spend money to train a bunch of guys, they lay them off for an extended time, and they don't come back.  Working the road (where the majority of new transportation employees end up) is a lifestyle change, and if you get a taste of being away from your family, and get laid off before seeing the income and benefits, it's easy to see why a young man or woman with nothing invested would simply walk.

As for the rest of the industries, the economy is improving overall, booming in some places, but not in our back yard.  Defense spending is down after a decade of war winds down and demand is less, and coal was up for a time, and as said, the China demand has dropped off for now.
One's observation of the economy is usually only noticed from their front porch.  Allegany county is not a barometer for the nation as a whole, so good news on tv doesn't always reflect us.

Allegany County's economy is always down.  This cuts both ways; it insulates us somewhat from economic busts (there's not much further down we can go), but also keeps the booms away, also.

[midlife crisis]

PBS Coal in PA laid off about 225 people in July and now because the government 'is going to bankrupt the coal industry', they announced they will be closing for good on January 1, 2013, laying off over 600 people.  These types of things ultimately affect our area too because mining keeps a lot of people employed.  From the truckers on up, there are a lot of jobs at stake.  And the trickle down effect will be felt not only here, but in many places.

[illuminati]

So the coal industry is slowing down because there is less demand for coal in China?

[Lightguy]

believe what you want, but the use of coal is declining mainly because in the last 10 years we've found about 300 years worth of natural gas- which has pushed natural gas prices to an all time low.  The utilities are shutting down coal plants left and right for cheaper (and yes, cleaner) CNG plants.   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443696604577645713658834228.html 

Yes coal has alot of regulations on it- and probably more to come- but that's because it's really dirty.  It's about the most pollution heavy type of energy we use.  Natural gas isn't "clean", but it's alot Cleaner than coal.  It's also ALOT cheaper right now, and much cheaper to transport (pipeline). 

I'm not trying to knock a local industry- because we need all the jobs we can get- I'm just trying to be a realist about the reasons for the decline. 

[my2cents]

ATK has ebbed and flowed for over a year now. Rumor is the large layoff a year ago (about 100). Again in March (at least 150 was told more like 250) one in May (at least another 50) a volunteer lay off in August (about 30) and now the rumor of 50 to 60 this month. Sad for those who are not going to be able to find other work in the area.

[midlife crisis]

How is NewPage holding up?  I haven't heard much about them lately.

[truce_m3]

Seems there's a notion up in Luke that they could get word at any moment the plant's closing down, and it wouldn't surprise anyone.

But what're you gonna do?  There's a lot less demand for paper these days, and it's only going to continue that way.

[woogus]

There will be greatjob opportunities out at Rocky Gap now that table games have been approved.  And it's all going to start next June.  I hope the training is beginning becase there's not much time to prepare for the onslaught.

[Yankee]

Rocky Gap is hiring within right now for security people and Lodge Maint.
Dont know when they will go public for help.
Many people will be needed tho...