Remington cuts jobs in NY

[adwjc]

I'm no fan of our recently reelected governor, to vastly understate it, but this seems more like a typical cost cutting business move to me:




"Capitol Confidential Reports:

Remington in Ilion lays off 100-plus workers
Posted on November 11, 2014

Remington Arms laid off more than 100 employees at its Ilion factory Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

Utica's WKTV reports that Remington laid off at least 125 employees. WSYR in Syracuse reports that Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney, a Republican who represents parts of the Mohawk and Hudson valleys, confirmed that 126 people were laid off. Remington cited budgetary reasons and a "soft" market outlook for 2015 as the reasons for the layoffs, according to WIBX 950 AM.

The layoffs come on the heels of another round of layoffs in August that left 105 people out of work. In May, Remington said it would consolidate some operations into its Alabama factory. That move left workers at the Ilion factory, which is the nation's oldest continually operating gun manufacturer, wondering who would be lost in the downsizing of the plant.

The fate of Remington's operations in New York has been questioned by many since the passage of the SAFE Act in early 2013. Elected officials in favor of the strict gun-control measures had said it shouldn't have economic impacts on the state's gun manufacturers. But SAFE Act opponents and workers have slammed the set of laws as the reason why Remington has eyed operations in other states.

Tenney took to Twitter to blame Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose SAFE Act is seen as a hallmark of his first term, for the layoffs."

Here are another 230 (between August and this layoff) skilled workers thrown out in the street.

 

[lonejacklarry]

My vote would be the "soft market". About this time last year there were few hand guns in store cases.

Now, I get two or three sale flyers a week from big names trying to sell handguns. The same applies for 5.56 mm ammo. It is everywhere now and, usually, on sale.

 

[GaryS]

This is one in a series of moves the company is making to get out of New York. There should be a thread here somewhere about Remington building a new plant in Alabama.

Is Remington even a union shop? I know S&W isn't and wonder how many gun manufacturers are.

Might be useful to know that before anyone can decide if this is union busting or not.

 

[GaryS]

My vote would be the "soft market". About this time last year there were few hand guns in store cases.

Now, I get two or three sale flyers a week from big names trying to sell handguns. The same applies for 5.56 mm ammo. It is everywhere now and, usually, on sale.

I was in Walmart earlier today and there were about half a dozen price rollback stickers on ammo. Most were hunting calibers, other than .40 S&W.

I think that says a lot about the current stocks of most calibers of ammunition.

 

[adwjc]

This is one in a series of moves the company is making to get out of New York. There should be a thread here somewhere about Remington building a new plant in Alabama.

Is Remington even a union shop? I know S&W isn't and wonder how many gun manufacturers are.

Might be useful to know that before anyone can decide if this is union busting or not.

Point taken, Gary. I'll edit to address that.

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

I blame NY firearm laws and politics. Because I said the "p-word", I'll just leave it at that.

 

[gdnagle]

My vote would be the "soft market". About this time last year there were few hand guns in store cases.

Now, I get two or three sale flyers a week from big names trying to sell handguns. The same applies for 5.56 mm ammo. It is everywhere now and, usually, on sale.

I agree with this. This layoff is at its gun making plant. The shortage is over for awhile until another ban scare comes along. These workers should have know they were hired for the shortage just like Christmas workers. Supply and demand, they were running extended shifts to catch up now they are caught up so they don't need the workers. Sad fact of life but you need to go into a situation with your eyes open.

There is different speculation on the layoff's from the problem with the Model 700 rifle recall down to the "reduction in force" being a "strategic business decision" that occurred as a result of a "softening market." or the safe act move to Alabama.

Either way I know how they feel I've had my share of layoff's in my life time. Lucky I was young enough and with mobile skills that it was easy for me to get another job.

 

[the ringo kid]

I was in Walmart earlier today and there were about half a dozen price rollback stickers on ammo. Most were hunting calibers, other than .40 S&W.

I think that says a lot about the current stocks of most calibers of ammunition.

Sadly, no rollback pricing here. I happened to stop by another WM--before I went to watch: Fury--again, and looked at their supply--which is even worse off than the WM I normally go to.

 

[GaryS]

There is a wide variation in my area among the Walmarts that sell ammo. One store I go to has a policy, per their sporting good manager, of putting out all of the ammo that they have. They have a triple width case for the ammo. Unlike some parts of the country here ALL ammunition is in a locked case.

Other stores in the area keep a lot of stock in the back and only put out a bit at a time.

One store has a manager who allegedly squirrels ammo away for friends or special customers.

In most of them, though, stocks are way up compared to even three months ago.

Sadly, no rollback pricing here. I happened to stop by another WM--before I went to watch: Fury--again, and looked at their supply--which is even worse off than the WM I normally go to.

 

[kozmic]

Remington made a "deal with the devil" in the form of tax relief and other incentives given by the governor for them staying in NY. I wasn't thrilled by that mild "cop-out", but I understood it and in some ways applauded Remington for doing what they did to stay here. I do know a lot of people who will never buy another Remington-made product again in protest though.

I would like to blame andy cuomo's (un)safe act for the job losses, but unless they specifically moved those job out of state (which Remington basically agreed not to do), these job loses were due to soft demand.

 

[GaryS]

The reasons they gave (soft demand), may have been cover so that they could get the tax deal AND move out to a more conducive climate. Both weather and business wise.

Remington made a "deal with the devil" in the form of tax relief and other incentives given by the governor for them staying in NY. I wasn't thrilled by that mild "cop-out", but I understood it and in some ways applauded Remington for doing what they did to stay here. I do know a lot of people who will never buy another Remington-made product again in protest though.

I would like to blame andy cuomo's (un)safe act for the job losses, but unless they specifically moved those job out of state (which Remington basically agreed not to do), these job loses were due to soft demand.

 

[99savage308]

NY is bad for gun related anything. I did read in the NRA mag American Rifleman mag. Remington is moving because of the present gov in NY. Remington will be making the Marlin's in NY.

The North is no place to make guns in this country. For some reason Yankees don't like guns. Must be a certain part of the population that wears skirts who make the rules. Whereis John Wayne when you need him.

 

[GaryS]

NH, ME, and VT are still big gun states. Sig is in NH, part of S&W is in ME. As is Windham Weaponry. And of course the mother ship for S&W is in Springfield, MA. Oh, and the M&P pistol frames are molded in CT.

NY is bad for gun related anything. I did read in the NRA mag American Rifleman mag. Remington is moving because of the present gov in NY. Remington will be making the Marlin's in NY.

The North is no place to make guns in this country. For some reason Yankees don't like guns. Must be a certain part of the population that wears skirts who make the rules. Whereis John Wayne when you need him.

 

[ladder13]

NY is bad for gun related anything. I did read in the NRA mag American Rifleman mag. Remington is moving because of the present gov in NY. Remington will be making the Marlin's in NY.

The North is no place to make guns in this country. For some reason Yankees don't like guns. Must be a certain part of the population that wears skirts who make the rules. Whereis John Wayne when you need him.

Yeah, but we have great dental facilities.

 

[Linejudgemick]

A person might think the R51 and the 700 trigger recall could have a little to do with Remington's "soft" sales. Even without these problems, it sounds like other manufacturers are seeing softening sales as well. Combine that with being owned by a private equity investment firm, the political climate of their location, etc.; it could get worse for them before it gets better.

 

[LVSteve]

I think the Remington crystal ball gazers may have it right. Most places I go are saturated with firearms for sale. Look at the softening of AR and 1911 prices just lately. Points to supply being up and demand being down.

 

[R. G. Amos]

Aren't some Remington firearms made in Turkey?

 

[bushmaster1313]

Aren't some Remington firearms made from turkey?

That must give PETA a fit.

 

[Mcwsky09]

Does anyone know of a similar number of people were hired over the last couple years? If not then a soft market sounds like a way to give what appears to be a acceptable reason that is not likely to be questioned when that is in fact not the reason at all.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Laid off workers don't care much why they were laid off.