By Todd Grady
Democrat and Chronicle

(Wednesday, January 30, 2002) -- Goodrich Corp./Garlock Sealing Technologies Inc. plans to lay off 63 hourly employees at its Palmyra headquarters over the next couple of weeks. The company is Wayne County's largest private-sector employer.

"We're experiencing very weak business conditions and needed to make some adjustments in order to control costs," said Ray Mathes, vice president of human resources. "We're a supplier to heavy industry. When heavy industry slows down, then we have fewer orders."

The company also continues the process of closing a smaller manufacturing plant in Sodus that employed 55 people. Garlock has laid off 19 workers there since Jan. 4, Mathes said.

Company officials said in December 2000 that it would close the Sodus plant and transfer workers to Palmyra. Given the situation in Palmyra now, the Sodus employees will receive severance packages but won't be able to relocate.

Goodrich now plans to do a lot of the work at a plant in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, and close the Sodus facility by May 1.

Garlock has about 800 local workers.

The company makes sealing products such as gaskets, packings and expansion joints. B.F. Goodrich Co. acquired Garlock when it bought Coltec Industries Inc. in 1999.

"They're anticipating that it's going to be a slow start this year and hope that the economy changes," said Ray Gould, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 588. The union represents about 500 hourly workers.

Palymra workers could be recalled if business conditions improve, Mathes said. They are covered under a three-year contract ratified on Dec. 22.

Gould said that the affected workers in Palmyra make $13 to $13.50 an hour.

Laid-off workers expressed disappointment.

"I regret that Goodrich felt the necessity to close the Sodus facility," said Arthur Ahrens, who lost his nearly four-year-old job as a machinist there last week.