VANDERBURGH CO., IN (WFIE) -
Forty five full-time Ameriqual employees are now without jobs. The company says military cuts are to blame.
Those military cuts are affecting companies, like Ameriqual, that produce meals-ready-to-eat and other military rations and local temp agencies say layoffs like this mean more people coming through their doors.
"It could be worse, but still that's 45 families that will feel the effects of the layoff and that's sad," says President Co-Owner of Action Temporary Service, Inc. Kim Devine.
Devine has been helping people find temporary work for years and she says layoffs like this.. Increase their application flow.
Friday, Ameriqual announced they're reducing their staff of 575 full-time associates by 45.
This comes on the heels of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's plan to cut $450 billion in spending over the next ten years.
"The important part of this process is that strategy come first and reductions are driven by the strategy, they're not across the board and they're not random," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.
Those cuts mean less demand for military rations products like MREs.
Ameriqual tells 14 News the layoffs will "lower operating costs in order to increase the company's efficiency."
Temp. Agencies say the key to move forward is to keep working.
"It keeps them working. Employers look at that. If you've been layed off for an extended period of time, it's not your fault but it doesn't, look good to employers," Devine says.
Devine says temporary jobs are available from warehouse to retail and many are high-paying, full-time positions that could become permanent.
"Employees get a little bit shell-shocked when this happens but my advice would be to just keep positive, brush up on your skills, make sure you have a nice resume, and really just be active in your job search," suggested Devine.
Ameriqual says those layoffs include nine administrative and maintenance positions and 36 production employees.
The company tells us it hopes to offer several new products that will create a demand for workers later this year.
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