The second round of layoffs at Saint Gobain Vetrotex America will begin next week, a plant official said.

Steve Barnes, manager for human resources, said the layoffs will begin Monday and run through July 21. They will involve about 70 employees.

The initial layoffs involved about 100 people, he said."Everything has been going well, as well as can be expected."

Barnes said the series of layoffs will continue through the end of the year.

"We are still trying to get the final perspective with what will happen with the property," he said. "The sale of the building and equipment could extend into 2009. It is far too early to tell that. There are too many questions to be answered. Conceivably we could have a few people until some time in 2009."

An earlier story in the Times Record News showed the other layoffs will be July 28-Aug.11, Aug.25-Sept.8, Sept.15-29, Oct.13-27, and Nov.28-Dec.12.

Workforce Solutions of North Texas still has an on-site center at the plant to assist employees, he said.

Mona Statser, the executive director of Workforce Solutions North Texas, said there have been eight employers on site to inverview workers for jobs since the closing was announced.

"Thirty in the first of the layoffs have found employment," Statser said.

According to another Workforce Solutions employee, "It looks like they are being scooped up."

Statser also mentioned that a couple of others who were laid off have found jobs and have relocated to Amarillo and in Nebraska.

She also pointed out that her agency has funds available to help pay for relocations.

Statser also mentioned that 175 workers have indicated they are interested in entering training programs.

"We have a list of demand occupations that guides our workers in what we can pay for, such as welding," she explained.

Saint Gobain officials announced in early March that it was shutting the plant down, the only stand-alone operation in its high-performance materials sector of Saint Gobain, saying it was deemed economically infeasible to keep the operation going.

At the time of the announcement, the plant employed 720 people and had a monthly payroll of $4.3 million.

Business Editor Lee Anderson may be reached from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at (940) 763-7533, or by e-mail at andersonl(at)TimesRecordNews.com

Source: Times Record News