Exmark recalls 200 workers

 

Exmark, which has been in business in Gage County for 27 years, manufactures professional turf care equipment including lawn mowers and lawn mower parts.
- Courtesy of Exmark

Exmark Manufacturing has recalled several workers who were laid off earlier in the summer. According to Branden Happel, spokesman for Toro Company (Exmark's parent company), about 200 employees were recalled effective Sept. 8. Other equipment manufacturers have laid off or recalled employees which continues to be a disturbing trend. It could take another year or two before the labor sector recovers.

In August, Exmark announced a summer shutdown that would impact 175 employees, basically all hourly workers. In addition to the hourly cuts, Toro reported company-wide cuts of salaried office positions in August.

Those cuts followed an April announcement of 80 layoffs and the elimination of all seasonal workers. At that time, Exmark consolidated its three shifts into two operating shifts. Happel said Exmark is currently back in production, although at a lower level to match reduced demand.

The recall of about 200 employees brings Exmark's Beatrice employee count to more than 300, according to Happel. That number is still well short of the 437 employees reported to be working at the Beatrice facility as of last year. ''At this point, I cannot say when remaining employees will return,'' Happel said.

- Courtesy of Beatrice Daily Sun, Nebraska