Forty-two employees at a Mattoon veneer and plywood manufacturer are without a job after the company gave a one-day notice of its closure.
Wisconsin Veneer and Plywood, 610 Railroad St., Mattoon, was closed effective Aug. 2.
Also shuttered that day were two other facilities owned and operated by Besse Forest Products Inc. Goodman Veneer & Lumber Company in Goodman employed 48 workers, and Birchwood Manufacturing in Rice Lake employed 46.
Besse Forest Products sent letters Aug. 1 to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), informing the state agency of the closures.
“We are sorry we were not able to give you more notice,” wrote Timothy Turek, chief restructuring officer, in a letter to the DWD regarding the Mattoon operation. “However, due to an unprecedented industry downturn, it has recently become clear to the company that the revenues of the company will no longer support its operations. After exploring restructuring alternatives, we have determined that (each company) will cease operations. Therefore, we are providing as much notice of the closing as is practicable in the circumstances, pursuant to federal and state WARN laws.”
There are no bumping or transfer rights to other jobs or locations, officials noted.
Certain employees at the Mattoon location are represented by the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
The union has since reportedly filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, claiming Besse Forest closed its Mattoon facility on such short notice that it put employees in a difficult position of managing their next career steps without adequate warning.
Wisconsin law requires 60 days notice for closure or layoff at a facility where 25 or more employees are affected if the employer has more than 50 employees statewide.
Jobs affected included those performed by general laborers, skilled laborers and office workers.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
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