By Molly Parker
mparker@scbiznews.com
Published Jan. 5, 2009
Robert Bosch Corp. will trim about 10% of its 2,100-member work force in North Charleston, the company said Monday.
Out of the roughly 200 people who will be affected, about 75 accepted a severance package Bosch offered in early December, spokeswoman Becky MacDonald said.
The remaining workers will be laid off by the middle of January, she said.
MacDonald said she could not say whether this would be the end of staff reductions for the company. Robert Bosch supplies power train components to automobile manufacturers and their suppliers.
It is among the many companies in the local automotive industry that are feeling the effects of Detroit’s woes and the overall economic conditions that have slowed vehicle sales. The company’s parts can be found in foreign models as well as domestic.
“We will continue to watch the demand we have from our customers,” MacDonald said. “The market and business conditions continue to be dynamic and we will have to continue to keep an eye on customer numbers coming in and ensure we have the right people employed in the facility.”
Employees that are laid off will receive the typical Bosch severance package, MacDonald said, but she refused to offer specifics about what that included.
Later in December, the company extended the buyout offer to Bosch employees at the company’s Anderson facility. Employees there have until Jan. 9 to decide whether to accept the offer. The company will decide after that whether additional layoffs are necessary, she said.
Reach Molly Parker at 843-849-3144.
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