Pocono News Section

CareerLink Prepares to Help Laid Off Workers

CareerLink Prepares to Help Laid Off Workers - Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 11:15PM EST

TANNERSVILLE - A company branch in Tannersville will lay off more workers than originally expected. Last week Roadway Express trucking company said it would lay off about 140 people as part of a consolidation plan. Now officials say more than 300 will lose their jobs starting in March.

When Roadway annoucned 300 people will soon be out of work, people at Monroe County CareerLink got down to work. "Help is here," said Debra Harrison of CareerLink.

Her office has planned an emergency meeting for Wednesday. It will set the stage to help Roadway workers who will lose their jobs. She explained, "We do a fact finding with the company, with the union reps, with the workers themselves."

After the meeting, CareerLink will have a plan to help people find new jobs, train for new careers, or get government assistance. "Something can be set up for them, just for them to help them through this time," said Harrison.

The layoffs won't onlly impact Roadway workers and their families. Officials say they could also impact anyone who lives or works in Pocono Township or in Monroe County.

Pocono Township Supervisor Jane Cilurso said, "It would mean a loss in our earned income taxes for the residents who live and work here and it could also mean a loss in our local services tax." She told Eyewitness News the layoffs could hurt an already strained budget but she couldn't pinpoint exactly how much money the area might lose. She remarked, "Probably tens of thousands of dollars, possibly even higher than that."

And that's just what the government would lose. Local restaurants and businesses will also likely suffer if the Roadway employees move away to find new jobs.

"It's going to be a big, big impact," said Cilurso.

The Roadway layoffs have added to stress at CareerLink. That office helped double the number of people in 2008 as it did in 2007.