Employees at Greenfield Industries Inc. in Evans, formerly known as Kennametal, will continue to have jobs at the plant on loan from Kennametal until the end of September, according to the plant's new owner.
Despite a Kennametal notice to the Georgia Department of Labor in July stating that about 150 employees would be terminated effective Aug. 30, workers are still on the job, said Dale Erkkila, a vice president with Top Eastern Drill Co.
Top Eastern Drill Co., a tool manufacturer based in Dailan, China, paid $29 million in June to acquire a Kennametal drill line and the rights to production facilities in Canada; Mexico; Clemson, S.C.; and Evans.
As part of the agreement, Kennametal agreed to maintain about 150 selected Evans facility employees on a leased basis to Top Eastern Drill Co., as the company determined the best strategy for moving forward, according to Kennametal's corporate office.
"They were going to provide us service for 60 to 90 days, and there's still 30 days to go," Mr. Erkkila said Monday.
In July, Mr. Erkkila said some of these employees would be hired by his company when the ownership-transition period ends. So far, Top Eastern has hired "several" employees. Some Kennametal workers have left to find other jobs, he said.
He said Top Eastern Drill Co. does not plan to shut down production in Evans, but the company is moving some production from Evans to Clemson to improve efficiency.
"We're continuing to evaluate what makes sense to us. It's an ongoing process. We just had part of the management group in from our Chinese parent company, and everything looks good to them," he said.
Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Remember the old saying when you tell one lie you have to tell another lie to cover it up and so on. Well the show goes on doesn't it. These employees have been lied to from the begining and the lies have continued. In my opinion, just to keep them so they can do the dirty work to clean up the mess and then they are out the door without a job.
lying seems to be old hat with these guys. You would think after the hell they have put all the employees through they could try to tell the truth once in a while. I wonder how the lay-offs will go this time. Will they use the good old boy system again or at least try to keep the DOL guessing. They didn't cover their tracks in June and now every move they make is being monitored. This should be real interesting by the time its over.
Those traitors like chuck gant and ed and mike are sellouts to the chinese.People like them are the reason america gets sold and hey everybody up there don't show these people anything you know just agree with them and go on.And it's more likely they will mess up and then hopefully both plants will close or they will be forced to sell at a loss.These three are an example of american communist
How does a company think that the employees remaining at the Evans plant will continue to do a good job for them, when we were basicaly threatend to sign on with a temp agency, or we would not be allowed to apply for unemploynent? I feel as if I live in china now, where you don,t have any rights. Why would a company ask for voluntary layoffs, and then decide they are going to force you to stay? The way I feel about it is, If I,m not good enough to be signed on with their company, why should I care if they make money or not? They do not care that I don,t have any bennifits anymore.
I wonder why nothing has been reported about the people that lost their jobs last week. Could this be another attempt to keep the truth from the people in the community. I also heard Clemson has some new offerings in their great tool making abilities. First we have red hot lefthand drills, these things are so hot they are on fire. Better keep the number to the fire department handy. They are also offering slow roasted 190's, they are so slow roasted it may be thanksgiving before you can place you orders. Be Careful what you wish for.
You dont have to sign anything.
Mike Szumlas and Fred Moss have been going around accusing folks of stealing. I have a message for you to jerks.. I have NEVER taken anything from that *hi*-hole that was not mine. I have heard that not only me but others (engineers manangement etc..) have had their names smeared. I want no part of your failing regiem. I wonder if Jeff is paying attention to how you are treating folks. Mike made a racial slur in one meeting he told a man "boy you better wipe that smerk off your face" sounds raciest to me" . I have heard rumors of you and Fred being homosexual but I have not spread them around as I discount them as just rumors. Funny how Mike even has lead people of the opposite sex peeking into mens resteroom sexualy harressing people. BTW this was done as we were Kennametal Employees. I have been harressed many many times and I consider the Evans plant to be a hostile work enviroment. Mike hasd put his finger in peoples faces. I heard him call one black guy the "N" word after he scalded him for not having all of his mills running.
2 years ago we did try to start a Union with the United Auto Workers Region 8 of: 151 Maddox Simpson Parkway Lebanon, TN 37090 WE had a rep hang out here in Evans for over a week. His name is: Salvador and he belongs to: the International Representative Department. I can tell you that we were threatened just as Mike has threatened us. I feel that Kennametal had had a free ride on this issue only to kick us to the curb. We were ejected like we were lower than scum. I feel that those of us that did try to organize should be compensated more than just one week per year as we were denied our right to assemble. I have not "lawered up" but Kennametal had better consider that it is possible there are more skelatons in their closet.
Oh danny boy!
I know who you are, and you are FIRED!
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