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Early Friday Morning, They All Had Jobs

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

Johnny Parrish, left, and David Taylor, former employees of Golden Aluminum Extrusion in Plant City, say goodbye after packing up their belongings Monday morning.

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By RUSSELL RAY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2008

PLANT CITY - With no warning, David Taylor and the more than 160 workers at Golden Aluminum Extrusion were fired on Friday.

Union officials said the plant was shut down after company officials failed to obtain a $1 million loan to keep it afloat.

Taylor, who worked at the plant for 18 years, cleared out his locker this morning and said goodbye to some of his coworkers.

Finding a new job in an economy hammered by high energy prices and layoffs will be especially difficult, Taylor said.

"There are a lot of people worried about where next month's rent is coming from," he said. "There damn sure ain't no jobs our there right now."

Calls to company officials today to find out why workers received no warning about the layoffs the plant's closing were not returned. But Gary Colbert, the interim chief executive officer hired to turn the company around, said this weekend he didn't know whether the plant would reopen.

Johnny Parrish, a former employee and president of Local 7858 of the United Steelworkers union, spoke with former workers outside the front gate as they showed up to clear out their belongings this morning.

"Most of our people still don't know they lost their job," Parrish said. "They haven't been contacted" by the company.

Forty-nine-year-old Arlin Cope said he was shocked by the company's abrupt decision to close the plant and fire all of its workers. After more than 30 years with the company, he plans to start looking for a new job this week.

"I'll probably go out and hit the market like everybody else and see what's available," he said.

The plant manufactured a wide range of aluminum products, including window frames and pool enclosures.

Golden Aluminum Extrusion, one of Plant City's largest employers, bought the plant from Alcoa Inc. last year and had made a series of changes aimed at improving profitability in a slumping aluminum market.

A year ago, shortly after the sale, the company laid off about 45 workers but later called many back. As late as July, there was hope the new ownership, a modified product line and adjusted workweek would aid the plant's survival.

"Things are looking up," company president Allan Cain said at the time. "The future looks bright for our employees and for our customers."

Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870 or rray@tampatrib.com.

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