Timberland helping out laid-off employees

When The Timberland Co. closes its Bangor shoe factory late next month, about 160 workers will lose their jobs. But the company is taking action now to help its employees prepare for the future.

Timberland has taken the unusual step of mailing letters to other employers in the Bangor area asking them to consider Timberland workers when making hiring decisions.

“The employees work in office/clerical, maintenance/janitorial, production, technical and supervisory/management positions,” the letter stated. “It would be greatly appreciated if you would consider our employees for any appropriate job opportunities with your organization now or in the future.”

The letter also invited local companies to send information about job openings to the Timberland plant, where it would be posted on an employee bulletin board.

“We want to let companies know that we have a pool of very capable workers,” said Nancy Zugehoer, director of personnel at the company headquarters in Hampton, N.H.

Timberland already has been approached by local firms looking for good workers, according to Zugehoer.

In addition to its contacts with area companies, Timberland is working with the state Department of Labor and the private Training and Development Corp. At counseling sessions to be held later this month, workers will be informed about severance benefits, medical insurance, unemployment benefits and job-training opportunities.

Timberland also has asked the U.S. Department of Labor to approve special unemployment and educational benefits for its employees under the federal Trade Readjustment Assistance Act.

“It’s very unfortunate that we have to close this facility,” said Zugehoer. “The company’s normal practice is to do everything it can for the workers … I think we have most of the things in place.”

But most of the workers would trade all of the programs for one steady job. Many workers previously lost jobs at other shoe factories.

Timberland opened its doors at the former Bass Shoe Co. building on Godfrey Boulevard just three years ago. For a time, the operation grew. But workers were told in late June that the plant would close its doors.

In the end, the factory was doomed by cheap labor abroad and high Workers’ Compensation costs within Maine.

“We can make shoes in the Dominican Republic for $1.44,” Mike Meierdirk, manager of the Bangor plant, said recently. “We’ve got to pay 96 cents here (for Workers’ Compensation insurance) before we even put the leather on it.”