By Josh Kastrinsky, Reporter-Times
jkastrin@reportert.com
Changes may be coming for one of the largest Morgan County employers that could affect employees.
A statement released Monday by Harman/Becker Automotive Systems said company officials are in discussions with local union leaders over the potential impact of restructuring of the car audio production company.
Harman "is engaged in a restructuring of its business, which could impact its Martinsville, Indiana facility," according to the release. "Harman believes the restructuring is an important step in the long term competitiveness of the company and is in the process of determining how to consolidate and reorganize various operations throughout the country and internationally and expects to reach the final decision soon."
Scott Bowmar, the company spokesman on the issue, said the company could not comment further.
Joe DiLaura, a spokesman for the Indiana Department for Workforce Development, said the company has not filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice (WARN) with the state. A company with 500 or more employees must file information on potential layoffs 60 days in advance of an announcement if the layoffs constitute 33 percent or more of the company's workforce, Dilaura said. According to Harman/Becker, the Martinsville plant employs approximately 500 people.
Though Harman has not filed, the company might still be considering employment changes, he said, and those numbers might fall short of the amount required for advance notification.
Martinsville Mayor Shannon Buskirk said he has not heard from Harman representatives in several months. He said that losing jobs at the plant would be bad for the community.
"I hope it's not true, because we need that company," Buskirk said.
The Martinsville Common Council granted a 10-year tax abatement for the Harman/Becker plant in September 2005. The abatement was for expanding its facilities by 24,000 square feet and to add 97 employees, Harman representatives said in August 2005.