Schott Solar mum on layoff rumors

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Two employees with a Mesa Del Sol solar company told KRQE News 13 Thursday that layoffs have been announced.

A Schott Solar employee said in an e-mail that the first group learned they wouldn't be returning to work late Wednesday night. He said that about 85 percent of that shift was let go, and that more workers would learn on Thursday that they would be asked not to come back.

A company spokesperson would not confirm any layoffs, but said that management at the Albuquerque facility would be meeting Friday morning about the issue.

Eight months ago Schott Solar announced an expansion.

They opened in March 2009 and have about 370 employees.

They were on track with their hiring goals and planned to hire 350 more over the next four years, according to a news release in 2008.

The company touted itself as one of the largest solar manufacturers in the world in the news release said.

A Schott Solar worker, who didn't want to be identified, said it was those hired through a temporary agency who were told they would need to look for another job.

"We were hearing rumors that we were going to get laid off," she said. "They (management) didn't give us reasons."
"They didn't give us nothing, nothing."

"It was like a very short meeting, all she told us that we didn't have to go in tonight."

The employee said they'd asked supervisors about the rumors, but they denied it was true.

The employee claimed everyone hired at Schott Solar through the temp agency, Manpower, were told they would not have to come to work after their shifts.

She said more than half the staff at the plant she worked at, making parts for photovoltaic panels, were temporary hires.

News 13 learned that the company contacted the city's Economic Development Department about an "upcoming plan," according to the mayor's spokesperson. The mayor was also briefed about the conversations that Schott Solar had with economic department, the spokesperson said.

The anonymous employee believed that this may be the beginning of more to come.

"I thought they were doing very good," she said. "It was just like a shock to me."