jobs Archives - Oak Ridge Today

With revenues down, Oak Ridge Schools could cut 18 positions, six could lose jobs

May 13, 2013 By John Huotari 5 Comments

Bob Smallridge

Revenues could be down about $1 million, and Oak Ridge Schools officials have recommended cutting 18 positions, including roughly eight teaching spots.

Six employees could lose their jobs, Oak Ridge Interim Superintendent Bob Smallridge said during a special meeting Monday. The rest of the cuts could occur through retirements and employees taking new jobs, among other things.

The 18 reductions could save about $1.1 million, Smallridge said. One special education teaching position would be added. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Basic Education Program, Bob Smallridge, budget, health insurance, jobs, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Schools, property tax, reductions, salaries, sales taxes, spending increases

Governor says legislative agenda underscores top priorities

February 1, 2013 By Tennessee Office of the Governor Leave a Comment

Gov. Bill Haslam

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam this week announced his priorities for the 2013 legislative session, building on momentum from his past proposals focused on attracting and growing Tennessee jobs, pursuing meaningful education reform, managing an efficient and effective state government, and strengthening public safety.

“In working together over the past two years with the Legislature, we’ve accomplished a lot for the people of Tennessee, and I look forward to working with the 108th General Assembly in the same way,” Haslam said. “Our proposals represent our top priorities of making Tennessee the No. 1 state in the Southeast for high quality jobs, continuing to improve education, being the best managed state in the country, and keeping our citizens safe.”

The governor’s legislation:

Answer Financial move has significant impact, new tenant possible

January 31, 2013 By John Huotari 1 Comment

Answer Financial Inc. is relocating from this building on Union Valley Road to Bridgewater Road in West Knoxville.

Answer Financial’s decision to relocate its local sales center to Knoxville, taking several hundred jobs, will have a significant impact on Oak Ridge, but another tenant could be interested in moving into the office building on Union Valley Road, business leaders said.

One of the largest auto and home insurance agencies in the United States, Answer Financial broke ground on its new 32,775-square-foot facility on Bridgewater Road in Knoxville last week. It could be open by early fall and serve as the company’s primary sales center. It will be able to house more than 400 employees, including more than 100 new employees the company plans to hire in the next two years.

Estimates of the jobs lost in Oak Ridge ranged from about 200 to 300, and officials said Answer Financial workers earned $40,000 to $50,000 or more.

SAIC cuts about 50 jobs in Oak Ridge

December 11, 2012 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 1 p.m. Nov. 12.

SAIC confirmed Tuesday that about 50 Oak Ridge workers have been laid off as part of a national workforce reduction that includes roughly 700 employees.

Based in McLean, Va., SAIC is a major government contractor that has its shared services headquarters in Oak Ridge. The company has about 900 local employees.

Melissa Koskovich, a spokeswoman for the company, said she didn’t immediately have information on the types of positions affected by the local workforce reductions but would try to get it.

Advance Auto will eliminate 80 jobs in Andersonville, but won’t close warehouse

November 21, 2012 By John Huotari 1 Comment

Contrary to recent media reports, Advance Auto Parts said Wednesday it is eliminating 80 jobs at its Andersonville facility, but it is not closing the warehouse.

Advance Auto Parts said it is moving its lower demand products that were housed only in the Andersonville facility to other distribution centers around the country. The move is meant to give customers better and faster service, the company said in a statement.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Top Stories Tagged With: Advance Auto Parts, Andersonville, jobs, warehouse

Advance Auto workers to lose jobs at Andersonville warehouse

November 19, 2012 By John Huotari 5 Comments

About 80 workers will lose their jobs at an Advance Auto Parts warehouse facility on Mountain Road in Andersonville, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

Advance Auto Parts said Friday that the company will move its low-demand products that were housed only in the Andersonville warehouse to other distribution facilities around the country. Ten to 15 employees will remain at the East Tennessee facility, but the move will cost about 80 people their jobs, WYSH said.

The company said full-time workers who lose their jobs will be offered a severance package and job placement help. The remaining positions will be filled based upon seniority and qualifications, the radio station said.

Filed Under: Business, Top Stories Tagged With: Advance Auto Parts, Andersonville, jobs, warehouse, WYSH

ETTP security staff cut by 15 employees

August 29, 2012 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The plan to cut security staff at the Y-12 National Security Complex has been canceled, but the proposal to cut staff at the East Tennessee Technology Park has not, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Courtney Russell Henry, public affairs manager for security contractor WSI Oak Ridge, said 15 employees at ETTP have left the company, including 13 security police officers and one support staff member who accepted a voluntary separation. One officer left the company outside the voluntary separation program, or VSP, Henry said.

Guest column: Tennessee taxpayers the ‘real winners’ in last two years

August 26, 2012 By John Ragan 2 Comments

Jobs are, hands down, the most important thing on the minds of Tennesseans as we approach the upcoming election.

We’ve watched the federal government fail time and time again as they have attempted to meddle in the economy. In the Tennessee General Assembly, we understood this would not work. Our approach is a proven path to prosperity.

Guest column: Good team relationships essential for attracting new jobs

August 18, 2012 By Jim Hackworth 3 Comments

Jim Hackworth

In today’s high-stress world, many families are struggling to feed themselves, buy gas for their car, and pay for their utilities. Many people are unemployed, underemployed, forced to work two jobs, or work long hours to survive.

There has never been a greater need for attracting new jobs and providing opportunities for people to go back to work. The American Dream is in jeopardy for most families.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Guest Columns Tagged With: Anderson County, jobs, team relationships

Guest column: State rep promises ‘bright, shiny future,’ delivers ‘total eclipse’

July 31, 2012 By Jim Hackworth 33 Comments

Jim Hackworth

No issue weighs heavier on people right now than the economy. Tennesseans are angry and fearful. They’re worried the American Dream is disappearing for their families because of the lack of good jobs in our communities.

They’ve seen friends, neighbors, and family members lose jobs through no fault of their own and small businesses shut down because there is no one left to buy their goods and services. People are waiting desperately to hear common sense solutions from the politicians running our state and our country. They are eager to see our East Tennessee conservative values used to make decisions that affect their daily lives.

Up to 52 Oak Ridge security jobs could be cut

July 23, 2012 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A total of 52 jobs could be cut at two federal sites in Oak Ridge, the Y-12 National Security Complex and the East Tennessee Technology Park, a security contractor said Monday.

The plan, which follows reviews by federal officials, calls for a reduction of up to 34 security police officer and three staff positions at Y-12, according to security contractor WSI Oak Ridge. It also calls for the elimination of up to 14 security police officer positions and one staff member at ETTP.

Company employees at Y-12 and ETTP will be offered a voluntary separation program, or VSP, and applications will be accepted until Friday.

Democrats, Republicans joust over jobs

July 2, 2012 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

There are fewer people working in Anderson County than at the beginning of the year, and Rep. John Ragan isn’t doing enough to create and keep jobs in Tennessee, a state Democratic Party official said.

“While jobs are leaving Anderson County, Mr. Ragan continues to put on a show for voters because he has nothing to show for his time in office,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said in a blog post last week. “These are the consequences of partisan politics–a legislature that is focused on protecting schoolyard bullies instead of putting Tennesseans back to work.”

But in an e-mailed response, Ragan said the state’s unemployment rate is moving in the right direction, and the Tennessee General Assembly has passed critical pro-job legislation during the past two years.

“We have lowered taxes for all Tennesseans, cut needless business regulations, fought to end frivolous lawsuits, and passed landmark education reform,” said Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican.