325 laid off by Hatteras Yachts

Just more than 200 job openings are on file at the New Bern office of the Employment Security Commission's JobLink. That is not nearly enough for the 325 employees laid off Thursday at Hatteras Yachts in New Bern and another boat plant in Edenton.

"I don't know if they are comparable jobs to those lost," said Mary Brown, local director of the Employment Security Commission. "It is a tough job market out there right now."

But helping those displaced workers find new jobs - or the training and skills for new work - is a priority for Employment Security Commission employees, said Brown.

She has been at the New Bern office for three years and this is the largest layoff the agency has dealt with during that time.

Most of the 325 employees laid off worked at the New Bern plant, but not many of them called or went by the Employment Security Commission office on Thursday.

Brown said that is because she was given notice of the company cutback so preparations could be made to help former employees filing unemployment insurance claims on Monday, their first eligible day to do so at the office.

The first day of eligibility is actually Sunday, she said, and some former employees may choose to file their unemployment insurance claim on Sunday online at www.ncesc.com.

A JobLink Services Fair is planned for the National Guard Armory at 317 Glenburnie Drive in New Bern from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday. Representatives from service agencies in the county will be on hand to help.

"We are real optimistic," Brown said. "I am already getting phone calls from area employers interested in joining us. And I have been on the phone and sending e-mails to area employees asking if they want to participate.

"Our goal is to provide every service we can. Job loss affects individuals and families."

Brown said that in addition to Employment Security Commission staff, there will be representatives from Vocational Rehabilitation, Craven Community College, Coastal Community Action and Eastern Carolina Workforce Development. Other agencies have been invited.

Brown said that those people who chose to complete the "Take Home Unemployment Insurance" packet from a meeting at Hatteras on Thursday should take it to the services fair on Monday.

Times for assistance in filing have been set up in groups arranged by the first letter of workers' last names. Those beginning with       A, B, C, D, U, X are 9 - 10 a.m.; E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, V are 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.; M, N, O, P, Y, Z are 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.; and Q, R, S, T, W are 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.