Laid-off workers ponder future

Some upset, others hopeful as Middlefield plant closes its doors

By RAYMOND L. SMITH / Tribune Chronicle
MIDDLEFIELD — Debra Fertig carried her granddaughter, Payton, with her as she went into the Johnson Rubber Co. plant for the last time Wednesday morning.

Payton smiled as Fertig’s co-workers gave each other hugs while promising to stay in touch after the plant closing.

Fertig, a 23-year employee, said she is apprehensive about her future, but confident she will find another good-paying job.

‘‘I’m looking at going to nursing school,’’ the 47-year-old said. ‘‘I’ve been doing a lot of research on the possibility since it was confirmed that the company was in financial trouble.’’

Johnson Rubber Co., a 113-year-old company that made auto parts, announced earlier this year that it filed for bankruptcy. The company closed its Middlefield and North Baltimore, Ohio, plants, laying off more than 300 employees.

‘‘Employees who remained with the plant received their last checks, a pay increase, a severance package, some matching funds for a 401(k) that the company has failed to contribute to for some time and funds for health insurance premiums that also were not paid,’’ attorney William I. Kohn of Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff said. Kohn is representing the company in its bankruptcy.

The company was able to provide some of these enhanced benefits because it made a deal with some of its customers to provide employees approximately $2.3 million worth of benefits in exchange for staying open long enough to continue supplying parts through April.

Johnson Rubber Co. made auto parts for companies such as Honda, Toyota, Ford and a company known as DTR.

Kohn said the company’s bankruptcy was due to it borrowing more money than it was entitled to, along with its lack of working capital.

‘‘There is no evidence that money was stolen,’’ Kohn said. ‘‘They were operating at a loss.’’

The company is still in the bankruptcy process. It has filed a plan of liquidation, suggesting a method of selling its remaining assets.

‘‘We attempted to locate a buyer that could have purchased the company before its closing, with the hope that it would be able to continue its operation,’’ Kohn said. ‘‘We had a number of companies that expressed interest, but ultimately we were not successful.’’

Joel Raines, 25, of Warren, who worked for the company for 5 1/2 years, said it is a shame that so many people are losing their jobs.

‘‘With the job market being what it is today, it will be hard for some to find new jobs,’’ Raines said. ‘‘I’m thinking about returning to school to get an engineering degree. It was something I was doing when I was hired.’’

Employees are qualified for Trade Adjustment Assistance, because it is believed the company was negatively affected by foreign competition. TAA allows employees to receive federal financial assistance for retraining, health benefits and job-search expenses.

John Christlieb, a 25-year employee with the company, said he never imagined being in this position because the company made parts for the foreign car companies that have been doing so much better than General Motors and other American car companies.

‘‘I don’t think the truth about what happened will ever come out,’’ Christlieb said.

With experience as a pipefitter and a millwright, Christlieb is optimistic about finding another job.

‘‘Some of the others who are regular factory workers may have a tougher time,’’ he said.

Mike Miller, 33, of Newton Falls, who earned about $14.74 per hour, says it will be difficult to find another job in this area that will pay that much.

‘‘I’m looking at going to truck-driving school,’’ he said. ‘‘But I’m taking a few weeks off first. I need a vacation. We worked awful hard during the last few weeks.’’

Janet Morrison of Rome is experiencing her third layoff in five years. They all resulted from factory closures.

‘‘I’m not going to work for another factory,’’ Morrison said. ‘‘I’m going to try to go to school to become an X-ray technician or a physical therapist.’’

Gene Weaver, 53, who has worked for Johnson Rubber for 36 years, was going to a job interview Wednesday afternoon and made derogatory remarks about Charles Price, the company’s president.

‘‘I believe he screwed the company over,’’ Weaver said.

Tribune Chronicle efforts to reach company president Charles Price at the Johnson Rubber Co. plant in Middlefield were not successful.

Frank Ciecarko, 58, who worked at the company for 15 years, says he still is owed back wages from when Coil Coating closed in 1990.

‘‘We went to work and the gates were locked,’’ Ciecarko said.

Albert Johnson, 44, of Champion, worked for Johnson Rubber for six years.

‘‘I have to find another job. I’m too old to be going back to school,’’ Johnson said.

Johnson is a skilled trade worker, so he is optimistic about finding a new job.



rsmith@tribune-chronicle.com

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