AM I NEXT? ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL - JMTC

Rock Island, Illinois-based Rock Island Arsenal, a major Army installation that is the home to more than 80 tenant organizations that provide critical products and services to all of our Armed Services, has announced layoffs at its Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC)which provides advanced metals manufacturing for the U.S. Army and Department of Defense systems globally.

The layoffs will impact up to 174 term personnel commencing October 1, 2021, through September 2022, including 111 employees on October 24, 2021.

According to a spokesperson, “The ebb and flow of our workload and the diverse composition of our workforce enables Rock Island Arsenal – Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center the ability to reduce or surge personnel to meet mission requirements. We must constantly evaluate our workforce and workload ratios to ensure we remain fiscally responsible to our taxpayers. The decision to reduce our workforce is difficult but necessary to support the sustainability of the factory. RIA-JMTC is posturing itself for the future and working toward modernization in support of the Army’s future needs.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT FUJIFILM MANUFACTURING USA

Greenwood, South Carolina-based Fujifilm Manufacturing U.S.A. , a division of Tokyo, Japan-based Fujifilm, the Japanese multinational conglomerate, has announced the consolidation of four ot of five manufacturing facilities located in Greenwood, South Carolina.

The plants produce products such as QuickSnap recyclable cameras, inkjet photographic paper, color photographic paper, and digital printing plates.

The consolidation will impact 400 employees and will be completed by September 2022. The company will relocate its manufacturing to other company facilities or outsouce a portion of the work to third parties.

According to Fujifilm President Todd Croker, “The impact of COVID-19 on our respective businesses reinforced to us that we need to be even more focused on enhancing our capabilities to serve our customers from different manufacturing and distribution points throughout the world. This change provides us with more operating flexibility, and ensures that we are optimizing use of our available manufacturing capacity. Market economic trends and a declining demand for many of the products manufactured in Greenwood challenged us to focus on how we adapt our efforts to continue to build a global, sustainable approach for Fujifilm.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT MOLDED FIBER GLASS COMPANIES

Ashtabula, Ohio-based Molded Fiber Glass Companies, a manufacturer of reinforced plastic and composite products, has announced the closure of the company's Aberdeen, South Dakota manufacturing facility that produces wind turbine blades for the wind energy industry. Approximately 300 employees will be impacted by August 6, 2021 or sooner.

According to a company statement, "The closure comes as a result of changes in market conditions, foreign competition and proposed revisions to tax policies impacting the wind energy industry in the United States."

Many employees are questioning President Biden's continued promotion of good, high-paying jobs in the renewable solar and wind energy space.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?