CARIBOU – Members of the Maine Department of Labor’s Rapid Response team will be in Presque Isle on Friday to assist the approximately 50 ATX workers affected by the recently announced layoffs at the Caribou tax software firm.

Sessions also will be held to assist the estimated 30 temporary workers who also were affected by the cutbacks.

Adam Fisher, spokesman for the Department of Labor, said the first Rapid Response session will be held at the Presque Isle CareerCenter at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, for Kelly Services temporary workers who were employed at ATX.

Another session for ATX employees will be held at 2 p.m. at the CareerCenter.

Employees at ATX, which is located on Sweden Street in Caribou, learned last week that they were being laid off. A former employee at the facility said the unexpected news was delivered during a meeting last Thursday afternoon and came as a “total shock” to those who were affected.

The layoffs took effect immediately.

Fisher said the Labor Department had planned to contact each of the affected workers to provide additional details about the sessions this week, but the department has been unable to get contact information for the workers from the company.

ATX set up shop in Caribou in 1992. Its parent company, CCH Small Firm Services based in Rome, Ga., acquired ATX in September 2006. In 2003, ATX had more than 150 employees at its Caribou facility, up from roughly 50 employees in 2000.

Company officials have not returned phone calls seeking comment about the situation.

This week’s Rapid Response sessions will provide workers with information about resources available to those who have lost their jobs, including CareerCenter employment services, unemployment benefits, health care, and other state and federal services.

Workers do not need to RSVP to attend these meetings. Individuals who can’t attend a session may contact the Presque Isle CareerCenter, 66 Spruce St., at 800-635-0357 or TTY 888-697-2877.

jlbdn@ainop.com

768-5681