HOPKINS COUNTY, KY (2/7/12) - On Monday, Feb. 6, SurfKY reported that an employee of Carhartt Inc. accused the company of contradicting an agreement to retain employees and add more than 150 additional employees, which resulted in a $3 million tax credit from Governor Steve Beshear. Greenville man, David Royster called the company out after learning of an upcoming lay-off.
Carhartt officials responded with the following statement:
“Carhartt is a seasonal business, so distribution has a natural ebb and flow,” states Rick Linville, Vice President of Distribution at Carhartt’s Hopkins County RCV distribution facility. “Every year we have layoffs and then hire back when demand increases – this is a standard practice that’s in accordance with our Union partners and employees. Our orders for Spring 2012 are greater than last year, so we expect to be calling our employees back to work in the coming months. This facility employs up to 700 people, with about 150 impacted by this standard seasonal reduction.”
Original Report:
HOPKINS COUNTY, KY (2/6/12) - An employee of Carhartt Inc. of Hanson, KY has decided to make a stand, claiming "Carhartt duped Kentucky tax payers $3 million with the promise of jobs."
David Royster, of Greenville, KY told SurfKY reporters Monday, "I have news that Carhartt Distribution center will be laying off an additional 200 employees within the next few days. This bad news was conveyed to us on the third shift last night at 10:00 PM, on February 5."
Royster claims the lay-off is a direct contradiction of an agreement for Carhartt to retain employees and add more than 150 additional employees, which resulted in a $3 million tax credit from Governor Steve Beshear, late last year.
A press release from the governor's office on October 12, 2011 stated, "Governor Steve Beshear today joined community leaders and officials from Carhartt Inc. in Hanson to announce the company will make a significant investment in its Hopkins County plant – more than $11 million with more possible in the future – to improve operational efficiencies and energy conservation. The investment will allow the company to retain its existing workforce of 550 Kentuckians and add more than 150 employees."
Royster told reporters, "Not only are they not hiring 150 more – they just laid off 30 employees and just last night announced that they will lay off up to 200 more."
SurfKY reporters have contacted Carhartt officials and Governor Beshear's office, but have not received a statement yet.
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