Textile mill says layoffs temporary

BIDDEFORD – Biddeford Textile Co., which has been wrestling with financial problems, says it has temporarily laid off most of its work force.

Company officials said they hope to have the 350 employees back on the job by Feb. 12.

Biddeford Textile said the mill’s former owner, Sunbeam Corp., failed to live up to its contract to buy more than $500,000 worth of blankets during the last year.

Thursday was payday at the mill, but dozens of employees left without a paycheck. And some of the checks from last week had bounced.

Company officials said they hope to pay all 375 employees Monday.

Biddeford Textile produces electric blankets and sells fabric shells that Sunbeam uses to make its own electric blankets. Sunbeam sold the mill in 1997 in a $10.5 million deal that left the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees with a one-third ownership share.