SRS layoffs hit some longtime employees hard (1200 jobs)

[UpInArms]

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050728/APN/507281071&cachetime=3&template=dateline

Fifty-one-year-old Leonard Collins learned he was being laid off from the Savannah River Site while away on funeral leave. It was a disappointing way to hear the news - the Aiken man had spent half his life working at the plant.

Collins is one of 1,200 workers being laid off from Westinghouse Savannah River Co. by Oct. 1. The company, which operates the site for the Department of Energy, said the layoffs were necessary because a variety of projects at the former nuclear weapons complex have been completed. Now workers like Collins are left without jobs, wondering what they will do next.

<snip>

Collins was one of 400 people to receive his pink slip this month. The electrical course instructor had rushed home after learning his granddaughter died at birth. His bosses called the same day.

"They wanted to know if I could come back for an hour to get laid off," said Collins, who refused. "It shows a lack of compassion."

...more...

[WhiteTara]

1. what a sad day for that man

but still, how do the numbers stack up? I mean everyone is getting laid off, but the unemployement numbers don't seem to jibe with the news.