Harrison Steel lays off 92 workers

Harrison Steel Castings Company Vice President and General Manager Geoff Curtis said the company had to reduce its workforce by 10 percent. He said the recent slowdown at places like Caterpillar had a major impact on business at the steel company.

92 employees of Harrison Steel learned they were out of jobs last Friday. 

"Orders have slowed down from 24 hours a day seven days a week to just 24 hours a day five days a week. The company has been fortunate in the past because the mining industry was not hit as hard by the economy, but that is beginning to change," said Curtis.

Mayor Butch Swift has worked at Harrison for 38 years now and said the impact of the company's layoffs will be far reaching.

"We have a city of 3500 and they lose 80 jobs right now, it affects 80 families. Whether it be the primary income or the secondary income, it's going to affect the families, it's going to affect the children, the businesses right now. We have grocery stores, the filling stations," said Mayor Swift.

Curtis said product orders at Harrison Steel Castings are down 20 percent from last year. As for whether those laid off will be rehired once business picks back up, Curtis said the company will just have to wait and see.

Attica resident Lee Bachman said it's an altogether tough time everywhere and people need to adjust their lives accordingly.

"It seems like everybody's in the store buying, tax time, they have money. But, if we go through another cold period of time you're going to have problems with phones, heat, heat being the major one, and food," said Bachman.

Swift said the company has gone through a tough period before one that was probably the worst.

"The town was absolutely devastated. It was right in between Thanksgiving and Christmas or right before Thanksgiving. It was '81-'82," Mayor Swift said.

Curtis said Harrison produces steel castings for the construction and mining industries. He said there are 792 workers still employed with Harrison Steel.