Ethan Allen is Laying Off Workers

Today is Monday, 2-23-09 and the last manufacturing company in the North Country is cutting it's work force. Word is just coming out , but the Beecher Falls plant will loose at least 1/3 of their workers, and possibly more. Even Danbury Conn., their Headquarters, will get hit. No word yet on the Orleans , Vt. plant. Art

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Permalink Reply by Robin Anderson on February 23, 2009 at 7:55pm: Art, This is sad news! It seems the North Country has been hit hard, recently. I can't remember where Beecher Falls is. Can you refresh my mind? It's also unfortunate that this is a manufacturing company. We need more manufacturing to get this economy going, not lose more of these.
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Permalink Reply by Arthur E, Cook on February 23, 2009 at 8:46pm: I just came from talking to my Brother. He is night Superviser at Beecher Falls Division of Ethan Allen. They are located where Vt., N.H., and Canada meet. They lost 66, the Orleans, Vt. lost 50, and Corperate lost 70 from their office in Danbury, Conn. Some were permanent, and some will be reviewed in 3 moths to see if they can be called back.They will still be doing the two weeks on and two weeks on lay off. The Economy will determin what happens next. The Factories are still there and they are still making furniture. That is the plan. Tread water till they can touch solid ground. Art; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arthur E, Cook on February 24, 2009 at 1:38pm: This Lay Off high lights another problem we in the Northern Third of N.H. face. No one in the Bottom Two Thirds know that People live and work here. WMUR is the only commercial station covering N.H. Their North Country office is in Merrideth. That is the Lakes Region, not the North Country and they have it in the middle of N.H. Most of their News Focus is centered there. I contacted them yesterday before noon to let them know there was a Major Job Story happening here. I have yet to see any thing on it either On-Line or on the Air. Mabe it was in the Ticker at the bottom of the screen and I missed it? How can People care what happens here if they no nothing about it? After all, we are just the Great North Woods! No people in that discription! Till WMUR changes, we will remain "Invisable" Art; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arthur E, Cook on February 24, 2009 at 4:06pm: The Calodonia News did have a story on the Lay offs, but, the Union Leader did not. On thing of note in the Union Leader was a list of 117 fore closesure notices. As for Jobs? Two short columns of mostly Teck jobs. Art; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robin Anderson on February 26, 2009 at 9:54pm: Unfortunately, I think you're right about the papers. Some don't think much about the North Country. I did see the article in my daily email from NH Business Review.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arthur E, Cook on February 26, 2009 at 10:13pm: I told Joyce that people like her are fighting an Up Hill battle in bring attention to this area when no knows that prople live here. The Great North Woods says only Trees live here. Art; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robin Anderson on February 28, 2009 at 10:05pm: You make a good point! There has to be a way to bring more attention to the area. I must admit there is a side to me that says: Let's stay the way we are so we don't become like the down country, over-exposed areas.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robin Anderson on February 28, 2009 at 10:03pm: It's really sad. I'm confident that being North Country people, they / we will make it. I'm not saying that it will be easy, just that people up here are a bit more resilient, plus we have a great community spirit that gathers round those that need help. I hate seeing this happen. We need more manufacturing in this country to help bring us out of this bad economy.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arthur E, Cook on February 28, 2009 at 10:17pm: Sad it is that the Managers in charge just do not get it! You have two ways you can manage your workers! You can have them work "For You", or you can have them work"With You". Think now how you would like it to be be if you were the Worker!! I have taught my brother well! No One works for him even though his title is Second Shift Supervisor! They work as a Team. As such, they easily out produce the larger first shift. Most managers just do not get it!! Ask someone for something, and you will get it! Demand it, and they will tell you to go to Hell! Old ways die hard!! Art; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robin Anderson on March 2, 2009 at 7:16pm: I just read that Lydall Thermal Acoustical Inc. in St. Johnsbury is laying off 207 people! From now until July. Here's what the paper says: April will see the most layoffs, with 83 people left jobless, according to the WARN notice, which does not account for every employee.

On April 24 alone, 67 employees are set to leave, it states. Positions cut that day include production supervisors, team leaders, an inventory clerk, material handler, calibration service coordinator, maintenance technicians and more than 50 machine operators.

Twelve employees left Lydall last month; 11 in February; eight are set to go in March; 28 in May; five in June; five in July; and finally the plant manager Sept. 30, according to the WARN notice.

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Permalink Reply by Arthur E, Cook on March 2, 2009 at 8:36pm: I just went to the On-Line site of the Caledonian to read the article. Another tie in for the Auto Industry slow down. Who is next? Art; ▶ Reply to This