29 To Lose Jobs
by Bea Peterson
On November 7 Oak-Mitsui Technologies, LLC, announced it is closing its FaradFlex Technologies facility at 80 First Street in Hoosick Falls. Production is scheduled to continue into January and cease in February 2015. All machinery and Research and Development equipment for the making of their circuit board product will be transferred to the Malaysia FaradFlex operation during March and April.
[private]According to Oak-Mitsui Human Resources Manager Valerie Risinger, raw materials for these products are shipped from Malaysia to Hoosick Falls, where they are manufactured, then they are shipped back to Malaysia. “Over 90% of the product is sold throughout Malaysia and Asia,” said Risinger. “We have a very small U.S. customer base. This move has to do with sales.”
Employees’ Future
The 29 affected employees will be on the payroll until February 5, 2015. At that time eligible employees will receive a severance package. If they do not have new jobs by that time, they will be eligible for unemployment and their health coverage will continue for an additional two months. Risinger said she has heard that some employees have been approached by Westerwood Global in Malta, NY.
Buildings To Come Down
Oak-Mitsui has determined that in the interest of public safety the buildings should come down after they have moved out. “The fear is that curious individuals will get into the buildings and it could be dangerous for them,” Risinger said. She added that the buildings have been looked at and no remediation is necessary.
ABC To Stay
The Oak-Mitsui Aluminum Bonded Copper (ABC) facility, located at 1 Mechanic Street will continue operation in Hoosick Falls.
Six office workers from the Accounting Department, presently located on First Street, will be moved into office space yet to be determined.
Mayor Concerned
At the Village Board meeting on Monday evening Mayor Borge expressed his concern over the Company leaving and taking down the buildings. He has been in touch with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Chris Gibson and State and County officials concerning the loss of jobs and property. The Mayor said they have all pledged their support and help. He has also been in touch with the NYS Department of Labor regarding education and training possibilities with Hoosick Falls as a focal point. Something like this is “never good for economic development,” said Borge. He added that Hoosick Rising will make this issue a priority. “The employees and their families are our number one concern,” he said. What happens to them affects the Village, the school, the Town and the County, he added. Twelve of the affected employees live in the Village and 19 reside in Rensselaer County. The Mayor added that the future of the employees is a collaborative effort between the Village and Oak-Mitsui. He said he has talked with Saint-Gobain and Interface and they have “voiced interest” is doing what they can. Borge believes that a total of 32 employees have been impacted by this move and that five have been reassigned.
With the buildings coming down, Mayor Borge wants to be sure that a clean piece of property along the riverfront is what is left behind.
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