Business

December 22, 2009

Office Depot workers losing jobs

About 120 at Crestwood Industrial Park distribution center to be let go when it closes in February.

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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WRIGHT TWP. -- About 120 employees at the Office Depot distribution center in the Crestwood Industrial Park will lose their jobs when the facility closes in February.

The company has operated the center since 2000.

The employees, who are non-unionized, were told Thursday that they’ll be let go between Feb. 15 and 26.

Company spokeswoman Melissa Perlman said the decision was made for multiple reasons, including to make the overall Office Depot distribution network more efficient.

She said the distribution center and warehouse in Newville, near Harrisburg, will have positions available for displaced employees if they’re interested.

She said Office Depot distribution warehouses elsewhere in the country also will have openings set aside for Mountain Top workers if they’re willing to relocate. The company is offering relocation assistance for employees if they remain in the company.

Perlman said severance packages and outplacement services will be offered to those unable to find a position within the company.

Todd Vonderheid, president of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, said it’s always tough to hear of job losses, especially around the holidays.

“Our heart always goes out to the families and the workers impacted and we certainly hope they will avail themselves of the work-force training and career placement available for them at CareerLink,” Vonderheid said.

An Office Depot retail store opened on Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard in August 2006 but closed earlier this year. The nearest store is in Bloomsburg.

Perlman said the closure of the nearest store to the Mountain Top facility did not play a role in the company’s decision to close the warehouse.

Vonderheid said the 110,000-square-foot building is owned by Mericle properties and he believes its location will attract a new occupant in the near future.

“It’s a great building and Wright Township is a great place to do business. We hope we can fill that building and those jobs as soon as possible,” Vonderheid said.

Andrew M. Seder, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7269.

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