Sears layoffs hurt Maine employees

BANGOR – About two dozen employees at the six Sears stores in Maine lost their jobs late this week, part of the company’s nationwide cost-cutting strategy that includes the elimination of 4,900 positions by 2003.

The vast majority of the layoffs, first announced in October, were implemented nationwide Thursday and Friday, according to company spokeswoman Peggy Palter. Palter said the cuts were part of the company’s plan to increase its operating income by $1 billion, or 50 percent, by 2004.

Palter said she didn’t have the exact number of jobs lost in Maine, but estimated that four or five management positions were eliminated in each store.

“It wasn’t a surprise,” said Palter, adding that positions were cut to streamline operations and eliminate unnecessary or redundant tasks.

Chris Beaulier, who had worked at the Bangor Mall store for 13 years – most recently as manager of the men’s clothing and shoe department – was told Thursday that his position had been cut. He said that while employees had been advised months ago that layoffs were looming, he had hoped his position would be spared.

“We knew something was coming, but we didn’t know exactly when,” said Beaulier from his Plymouth home on Friday.

Earlier this month, company officials reported a fourth quarter net income of $657 million, or $2.02 per share, an 11 percent per share increase over the prior year’s fourth quarter.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a historic Illinois-based department store chain with an annual revenue of $40 billion, has 850 full-service stores throughout the country.

In Maine, the chain has stores in Bangor, Brunswick, South Portland, Augusta, Lewiston and Presque Isle, and employs about 1,000 people.

Beaulier, 34, said he was given a severance package the equivalent of one week’s pay for each year of employment at the Bangor store.

On Friday, the Plymouth man said he was optimistic that, with his experience and college degree, he would have little trouble finding a new job to replace his income for his wife and two children.

“There’s all kinds of jobs out there for people willing to look for them,” he said. “I’m not all that concerned.”