Mobile Company Announces Layoffs

Alabama Mobile Armstrong World Industries is shutting down production at its Mobile plant.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Tue, March 10, 2009 - 7:25 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, March 10, 2009 - 7:40 pm CST

A new month is not bringing good news for a group of workers in Mobile.
Armstrong World Industries has announced it is shutting down production at its Mobile plant in May.
172 jobs will be lost.
The facility is located on Baker Street in downtown Mobile.
Armstrong makes flooring, ceiling and cabinet products.
The company blames the economy.
Some employees were afraid bad news was coming.
When asked if he was surprised to hear about the layoffs, John Bettis said, "Well, not really. Its been kind of slow around here, anyway. We've been kind of looking for it."
Others were caught off guard.
Employee Adam Carr said, "Its tough. It caught everybody by surprise."
Still others were philosophical.
When asked how he was feeling, Fred Brown said, "I'm feeling all right. Thank God I'm living."
All had to think about their futures.
When asked what he was going to do now, Carr said, "Look for another job. That's the only thing you can do. I'm going to start taking my resume (around.) I've been here a little less than a year."
Adell Powe runs Dell's Cafeteria on Broad street, a few blocks away from Armstrong.
She said, "A few of them (employees) have come in. When I was open before, I had most of them come in going to Armstrong and getting off from Armstrong, but lately, (there) hadn't (been) too many come in."
Now, Armstrong workers have something else on their minds.
One said, "Everybody is starting to look, and just starting to pray. We'll be all right."
The last day of production at the Mobile facility is scheduled for May 8.
Company officials said severance packages were offered to salaried employees and packages were being negotiated for hourly workers.

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