Sun 20-May-2001
In more than 100 years, the future probably never has looked so bleak for employees of the Mirro Company.
Competition from overseas and restructuring by Mirro's parent company, Newell Rubbermaid, has created what former presidential candidate Ross Perot would call "a giant sucking sound" of American jobs heading out of the country. Unfortunately, Mirro employees in Manitowoc have been the hardest hit as layoffs have been announced.
Last week's announcement that Mirro's corporate headquarters would be transferred to Toledo, Ohio, where Newell directs its Calphalon division, sent an ominous tremor across the city which has been home to Mirro operations since 1897.
The latest round of layoffs adds about 100 Mirro workers to a list of more than 330 who were furloughed earlier this year. Of these most recent cuts, more than 300 are right here in Manitowoc 198 workers from Plant 10 and anywhere from 100 to 115 at the former corporate headquarters on Washington Street.
The exact number of layoffs is unknown, because Newell repeatedly has refused to make public comment about its restructuring plans. The parent comp-any also won't say whether any Manitowoc-based employees will be provided options to transfer to other facilities.
The displaced Mirro workers join a growing number of unemployed people from a wide range of industries and businesses across the Lakeshore, including workers from Paragon in Two Rivers and Precision Woodcrafting in Manitowoc, to name just a few.
We empathize with our friends and neighbors who suddenly have been left without employment. Their situation concerns us. After all, the county's rising unemployment rate inevitably will have a rippling effect on our region's economic health.
So, what happens to our friends and neighbors happens to all of us.
Mayor Kevin Crawford estimates the economic impact of the Mirro layoffs will be between $5 and $7 million.
"This latest layoff announcement is devestating to the community," Publisher Gary Omernick said. "Mirro has been a major employer, and nobody knows where the layoffs will end or how deep the cuts will go. I'm concerned about how much more bad news our local economy can withstand."
Now is the perfect time for the Chamber of Commerce, government agencies and area businesses to marshal resources to aid laid-off workers.
The Herald Times Reporter is in the process of develping a "Helping Hands" campaign that will be aimed at helping displaced workers from the area make ends meet.
We are offering free classified ads to residents who have been laid off, reduced subscription rates and job search assistance. There will be a place on our Web page (www.htrnews.com) where resumes can be posted.
We will launch our efforts next Sunday, with names and telephone numbers of staff members who will be assigned to help jobless residents.
We also are looking for campaign partners, businesses which are willing to help keep Manitowoc families on their feet by offering discounts on services and goods. Those interested in becoming a "Helping Hands" partner should contact Advertising Director Yasha Holmes at 686-2120 or Omernick at 686-2128.
Editorial: Protect yourself
News of corporate downsizing can have a paralyzing effect on the individuals it touches. The impact is even more devastating when mega corporations, such as Newell Rubbermaid, lay workers off with little notification and adopt a code of silence in the aftermath.
Newell's latest layoffs were particularly devastating to workers at the Washington Street headquarters of the Mirro Company. Notices of termination came suddenly at the end of the work day and security guards were placed at entrances and exits to assure employee departures were without incident.
Sudden layoffs are difficult, experts say, because employees develop a sense of harmony within themselves and the jobs they perform, regardless how difficult or foul the task. When that harmony is disrupted, a sense of hopelessness can develop.
Displaced workers can avoid such feelings of gloom by focusing immediately on the future. Most importantly, experts recommend laid-off workers evaluate their futures carefully, and not rush into new job opportunities without thorough analysis. Here are some questions to consider:
* What kind of new position should you be looking for?
* How does the position fit with long-term career goals?
* What type of company would be a suitable fit to your skills?
* What new skills will be required?
* Who are potential employers in the area?
Displaced workers also should go about the business of removing barriers to unemployment and severance compensation. That includes acquiring a copy of employment records, gathering human resource contact information and requesting details of severance in writing.
Equally important is building a network of support. Family and friends are the first individuals to turn to, but so are co-workers, former supervisors and associates. Their assistance could be essential in obtaining work elsewhere. Make a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers as soon as possible. They could prove to be valuable references for future employers. A letter of recommendation from a former supervisor also would be useful in finding a new job. Plus, it bolsters confidence and self-esteem.
The key to avoiding the shock of sudden bad news from employers is staying informed, a condition that is not difficult to maintain. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides an Internet site with plenty of data on economic and business trends. So do newspapers, magazines and a variety of other broadcast media.
Experts say the warning signs are easy to spot. They are hiring freezes, warnings about earnings and spending, budget cuts, travel cutbacks and restructuring. In the case of Newell Rubbermaid, announcements about cutbacks and restructuring have been circulating since the first of the year. Cutbacks became imminent after first-quarter profits dropped.
Finally, if you see warning signs and they seem to be everywhere make personal adjustments at once. Don't wait until the security guard is at the door.