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RV Industry News blog reports:
"Coachmen reduces workforce at Fitzgerald, Ga. manufacturing facility
Greg Gerber posted on November 20, 2008 16:35
TIFTON, Ga. -- Approximately 90 of the 120 people employed by Fitzgerald's Coachmen Industries will be unemployed when they finish working today, and everyone from CEOs to custodians with the company will take next week off without pay.
"Coachmen has been here for many years and is one of our oldest employers," said Lawton Tinley, economic development director for the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Development Authority. "It is especially difficult that this is the holiday season, and we are going to do all we can to help these guys. "
The company was founded in Middlebury, Ind. , in 1964 and is one of America's leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles and system-built single family homes and multi-family residential structures. The Fitzgerald facility produces and assembles "fifth wheels" and some new items called sports utility trailers (SUTs) or "toy haulers," according to Thomas Gehl, the company's corporate secretary, vice president and director of investment relations.
Gehl said he hopes the layoffs will be "temporary and brief. "
Gehl said the company has reduced the workforce at a number of the company's facilities over the past year because of the waning economy and the fact that the products they produce are not necessities but luxuries for many people.
"It is difficult with consumer confidence being at historic lows and the fact that is more difficult to get credit," Gehl said. "The positive thing is that we are a way of life for people and we are hopeful that this will turn around and we will see a lot of buying soon. ""
"Coachmen reduces workforce at Fitzgerald, Ga. manufacturing facility
Greg Gerber posted on November 20, 2008 16:35
TIFTON, Ga. -- Approximately 90 of the 120 people employed by Fitzgerald's Coachmen Industries will be unemployed when they finish working today, and everyone from CEOs to custodians with the company will take next week off without pay.
"Coachmen has been here for many years and is one of our oldest employers," said Lawton Tinley, economic development director for the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Development Authority. "It is especially difficult that this is the holiday season, and we are going to do all we can to help these guys. "
The company was founded in Middlebury, Ind. , in 1964 and is one of America's leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles and system-built single family homes and multi-family residential structures. The Fitzgerald facility produces and assembles "fifth wheels" and some new items called sports utility trailers (SUTs) or "toy haulers," according to Thomas Gehl, the company's corporate secretary, vice president and director of investment relations.
Gehl said he hopes the layoffs will be "temporary and brief. "
Gehl said the company has reduced the workforce at a number of the company's facilities over the past year because of the waning economy and the fact that the products they produce are not necessities but luxuries for many people.
"It is difficult with consumer confidence being at historic lows and the fact that is more difficult to get credit," Gehl said. "The positive thing is that we are a way of life for people and we are hopeful that this will turn around and we will see a lot of buying soon. ""
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