MOUNT VERNON — Rumors have been circulating that the Mount Vernon plant of Sanoh of America has laid off a significant number of workers. The layoffs were said to be on the third shift.
Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis said he had not heard anything about layoffs at Sanoh. He said federal regulations require companies to notify local governments about major layoffs at local plants. Mavis said if this was a nonpermenant or seasonal layoff, the regulations might not apply.
“Big Bear did that for us when they closed,” he said. “And American Can did. But I don’t know if [Sanoh] has to do that in this case.”
Vice President of Administration Lance Garceau, at Sanoh’s corporate headquarters in Findlay had little in the way of local details to offer. He did have information based on the companywide situation.
“We are going through layoffs at all of our locations at this point in time for obvious reasons,” he said. “We have not historically had seasonal layoffs. This is due to the economic environment, especially with automotives. Sales are down. It’s that plain and simple.”
Garceau said the Mount Vernon plant doesn’t supply anything to the Big Three automakers. The company as a whole only supplies to Ford.
“Fortunately, we supply to Toyota, Subaru, Nissan,” he said. “So fortunately, we are insulated from most of the pain. But still, they are not doing very well, either. Toyota reported, I believe today, reported their first operating loss, maybe ever.”
As far as the local plant’s situation is concerned, Garceau was guarded with specific information, especially regarding the third shift.
“I can’t say much more than that at this point in time,” he said. “Because with the third shift, that’s all they’ve had an opportunity to meet with. I think you’d be better served to get [any other] information after it’s completed if you want true impact. We can’t really divulge what the extent of it is until the people have been notified. We don’t want them to see it in the media or read it in the paper. But right now I can say it’s because of the economy.”
Sanoh has 1,300 employees at six manufacturing plants in North and South America. Calls to the local Sanoh office were not returned.
