Second round of layoffs slated for Friday at toothpick manufacturer
A Rapid Response Team will meet Wednesday with workers losing their jobs.
STRONG – The town lost its distinction as the Toothpick Capital of the World Friday when toothpicks stopped being made at Forster Inc.’s local plant.
Fifteen people out of 80 employees at Forster Inc. lost their jobs Friday when toothpick operations ceased. It was the first wave of layoffs leading up to the plant closing for good June 6.
Jarden Corp., parent company of Alltrista Consumer Products that now operates Forster Inc., announced in late January that it would shut the plant down.
Twenty-three more people will lose their jobs at the end of the day Friday, May 16, when wood clothespin operations cease, said acting Manager Jack Lambert. Eight more people will be terminated May 30 when the plastic clothespin assembly operation is discontinued at the plant, he said
The first week of June is basically cleanup and maintenance, Lambert said. Thirty-four more employees will lose their jobs on June 6 when the plant closes.
Employees were given a bonus to stay on the job after the closing announcement was made and also severance packages.
Rapid Response Team members from the State Department of Labor and Wilton CareerCenter will hold workshop sessions for workers from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 14, at the Forster Memorial Building.
Representatives traditionally guide workers losing jobs through unemployment benefits, health insurance, labor market information, CareerCenter services including resume writing, consumer counseling and other services unemployed workers would need, said Wilton CareerCenter Manager Paul Gilbert.
Representatives will not be going over Trade Act adjustment assistance that would have extended benefits and provided training assistance for eligible employees.
The company’s petition for Trade Act adjustment assistance was denied due to Forster Inc.’s employees not being laid off when the initial petition was submitted.
Both Lambert and a Jarden Corp. representative, Desiree DeStefano, said the company would re-apply for trade assistance.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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