North Georgia: Shaw provides details on reductions, plant production changes

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Officials with Shaw Industries said today they have restructured production schedules at plants in Ringgold and Eton, Ga., and are cutting a shift at a South Georgia plant.

The release did not say how many employees were affected in Ringgold or Eton, but said 90 jobs would be lost with the elimination of the shift at the Fitzgerald, Ga., plant near Tifton.

Machinery from one local facility was relocated to other Shaw plants and crew assignments were readjusted at the other plant, according to a statement from the company released this afternoon.

Human resources director Al Scruggs said the company is working to place all of the affected workers.

"As we make changes that require us to reduce work schedules or eliminate shifts, Shaw works diligently to identify other positions within the company for impacted associates," Scruggs said in the statement. "In regards to the most recent adjustments in Ringgold and Eton, we have opportunities in other plants for those that desire to remain with the company."

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the parent company of Shaw Industries, reported that earnings from Shaw and other housing related manufacturers fell in the second quarter.

"While revenues in 2011 from the building products group increased over 2010, these businesses, generally, continue to be negatively impacted by slow construction activity, particularly in the single-family housing markets," the company reported in its latest quarterly earnings report.

Shaw laid off 302 workers at a Chatsworth, Ga., plant in April.

In Ringgold, the floor-covering giant operates a hardwood flooring plant near Exit 345 on Interstate 75 and a warehouse near the Catoosa County water plant.

In December 2009, Catoosa commissioners agreed to delay taxes and guarantee a sewer project to keep the Shaw laminate plant in Ringgold.

In June 2009, Shaw announced it would consolidate operations from its Algona, Wash., laminate plant to the Ringgold facility.

"Project Tiger," the county's code name for the incentives package, was to forgive taxes on $12 million in new equipment for five years.

The county also agreed to run sewer lines to the site, which had been planned for some time.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.