Another local manufacturing company is getting ready for a big round of layoffs. Ceco Building Systems Monday morning issued a “Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification” to the employees of its Columbus manufacturing plant on Highway 45 North.
The company has not yet released the number of layoffs expected or when they are to take place; however, the U.S. Department of Labor requires the issuance of a WARN when a company prepares to reduce at least 33 percent of its full-time, more than 100-person workforce for a period of more than six months.
Ceco, which has been in Columbus since 1947, currently employs about 175 people. The issuance of the WARN means the company likely will lay off more than 50 employees.
“Included in the WARN notice were all plant employees and some office personnel in response to the extended and significant contraction of the non-residential construction market,” Ceco Vice President and Southern Region General Manager Roger Burlingame wrote in a press release.
As of this morning, Burlingame had not returned messages left at his office, requesting additional information.
Ceco is one of the nation”s largest designers and builders of steel buildings. According to a press release from the company, “Ceco is one of the nation”s largest suppliers of steel building systems to the religious, educational, office, retail, warehouse and institutional marketplaces.”
These new job cuts will follow on the heels of another round of layoffs, during which 67 people were let go between September 2008 and February 2009.
The company has 39 manufacturing facilities in 17 states and Canada and Mexico.
Holcim in March announced the termination of about 113 positions at the cement manufacturing plant on Highway 45 Alternate in Artesia.
The Holcim cement plant, which has been operating in Artesia for more than 25 years, will shut down sometime in late May or early June.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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