More cuts at UNI-SOLAR in Greenville

GREENVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - United Solar Ovonic (UNI-SOLAR) is once again cutting jobs at its Greenville facility. This will be the third time since December 2009.

The latest layoffs are part of a furlough, Michael Schostak, director of business development and communications for UNI-SOLAR'S parent company, Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ECD), told 24 Hour News 8. He said 140 employees will be let go at the Greenville facility, and plants nationwide will be idled until at least the end of the year.

UNI-SOLAR makes solar panels for power generation. Kim Paulson, corporate marketing manager, said there are economic pressures industry-wide forcing the cuts. Demand for the product has waned as government credits for the use of photo voltaic energy sources in Europe has dried up.

Also, current supply for solar products worldwide is more than double the demand, so there is no need to make more, Paulson said.

Paulson said this means the company needs to make adjustments in its cost structure, and that will result in the layoffs in Greeneville. She said it is the only plant where there will be layoffs, but says the company believes the number will be small enough that officials do not warrant a federal WARN letter.

Ninety jobs were cut in Greenville in December 2009, and 115 factory and non-factory jobs were lost in Greenville and Auburn Hills in May of this year.

The Greenville facility began operations in November 2007.