Former Whitley workers start their job search

wsbt.com/business/wsbt-former-whitley-workers-start-their-job-search-20130129,0,2041756.story

wsbt.com

PLYMOUTH - It's been a week since 110 workers lost their jobs due to a plant closing in Marshall County. And now some of them are trying to get back to work.

Whitley Products in Plymouth closed last Wednesday after 35 years, saying they didn't have the money to stay in business.

"It hurts," said Lorri Prater. "I can't get my unemployment. There's some problem, and I'm the only income.

"I did so much there," Prater said. "It's disappointing we didn't have some warning."

After reaching out to company officials for a week, they still haven't returned our calls.

In a statement to employees, Whitley said, "It's senior lender has again refused to provide the necessary funding to enable Whitley to continue operations. With great regret, we must inform you that Whitley Products, Inc., has terminated operations. For our employees, this means their employment is terminated."

"We're all sticking together> We're one big happy family, so we're supporting each other right now," Prater said.

Dozens of former Whitley employees packed into WorkOne on Tuesday, looking for their next job.

"I got a bunch of leads; there's a bunch of good employers in there," said former employee Jason Allen. "Hopefully that will pan out for us."

Like Prater, Jason Allen was the only one working in his home and with a wife and kids, he's counting every penny right now.

"I'd like to know if we're going to be paid for the hours we did work," Allen said.

Whitley owes him 30 hours of pay, and he's not sure if he'll ever see that money.

As some employees left WorkOne, they couldn't help wonder if it really is the end of Whitley or the beginning of their new life without Whitley.

"Rumor has it we may go back tomorrow, but that's what rumors are," Prater said.

The federal WARN act says 60 days notice must be given for businesses with more than 100 employees.

But the WARN act says a company doesn't have to give 2 months notice if doing that would ruin their opportunity to get new capital or business.

WorkOne is having another job fair next Monday for the people recently unemployed at Whitley.

wsbt.com

Former Whitley workers start their job search

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