News release, Mar. 26, 2007A

Georgia

Department of Labor

NEWS RELEASE

SUITE 642



(404) 232-3685

148 INTERNATIONAL BOULEVARD, N.E.



ATLANTA, GA 30303-1751



FAX (404) 657-9996

Communications@dol.state.ga.us

Michael Thurmond
Commissioner

Sam Hall
Director of Communications

March 26, 2007........................................................FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Labor Commissioner Thurmond to address Millen/Jenkins County Chamber this week
ATLANTA State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond will speak at the annual Millen/Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce banquet Thursday, March 29, in Millen. The banquet will be held at 7 p.m. in the Jenkins County Agriculture Center at 434 W. Barney Avenue.
Thurmond's speech comes as the area is confronting the impact of the decision by Jockey International, the area's third largest employer, to cease operations at its knit underwear plant in Millen. The company notified the labor department on March 15 that it will immediately begin eliminating all remaining positions at the plant, affecting 59 workers. The company laid off 203 employees last fall.
"The decision by Jockey management to close the plant in Millen essentially means that those employees must find new jobs," said Thurmond. "When the first layoffs were announced, we immediately established a transition center in Millen to assist the Jockey employees, as they search for new jobs and plan their futures. I'm very pleased that some of the workers have found employment. Also, more than half of the employees already laid off have entered training for new skills, or have decided to further their education, which will certainly help them get jobs."
Paula Herrington, the executive director for Millen/Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce and head of the local development authority, remembers well the day she learned about the layoffs, and to whom she turned for help.
"I immediately contacted the Georgia Department of Labor and within 30 minutes I had a representative from the department here," said Herrington. "I was desperate, and through all of this Commissioner Thurmond has helped us tremendously. I've heard him speak, and he's such a good speaker with an uplifting message that I think this is an ideal time for him to address our chamber."
Thurmond said, "We and our work force partners will continue to work with the employees, company, and local elected and business leaders to ensure that whatever assistance possible will be provided."
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THURMOND TO SPEAK IN MILLEN last add
The Georgia Department of Labor's Jenkins County Career Transition Center is located in the Millen News Building at 856 Cotton Ave. It's open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
At the transition center, labor department personnel conduct job search and resume workshops, and provide career counseling and a wide range of employment-related services. Local work force partners providing assistance include the East Central Georgia and Richmond-Burke Workforce Investment Boards.
The laid-off employees who have entered into job training and certification or diploma classes are enrolled at Augusta Technical College, Ogeechee Technical College, and Swainsboro Technical College.
The Millen area is served by the labor department's Augusta Career Center, located at 601 Greene St. The telephone number is (706) 721-3131. Effected workers may get assistance from any of the department's 53 career centers throughout the state. A complete listing of the centers is available at www.dol.state.ga.us .
NEWS MEDIA NEEDING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD CALL (404) 2323685.
CY-07-065