The layoffs are coming as a result of the company selling its Personal Care Division facility, according to James Todd, the company's president and chief executive officer. Todd declined to comment on who bought the Personal Care Division.
The layoff warnings came in two letters to Mayor John Bell from the company earlier this week.
The two letters, one from Todd and the other from Lisa Newton, NutraMax's human resources manager, were received by the mayor's office Monday. Both warned that there were imminent layoffs, however the number of layoffs stated in each were contradictory.
In his letter, Todd stated: "NutraMax anticipates terminating the employment of approximately 62 employees" and "currently expects to close the Personal Care Division permanently and entirely. Therefore, this will be a permanent layoff."
Newton's letter stated: "NutraMax anticipates notifying approximately 101 Personal Care Division employees that their positions ... will be eliminated. NutraMax anticipates offering positions in its Chew Division to approximately 48 employees." Both letters cited the layoffs beginning Dec. 1.
NutraMax, a source of more than 250 jobs in Gloucester, is a developer, manufacturer, supplier and marketer of selected health and personal care products. The company line ranges from cough drops and dental accessories to travel kits and disposable baby bottle liners.
Todd claimed that he wasn't aware of the second letter sent by Newton and wasn't sure why there was a difference in the numbers he cited in comparison to Newton. Todd added that he couldn't give an exact number on the layoffs in December.
The Personal Care Division, which focuses mainly on female hygiene products, has been on a negative slide, Todd said. NutraMax will continue to be located at the same facility at Blackburn Drive, but will only be operating its Chew Division, which focuses on chewable products such as vitamins.
Workers at the Gloucester plant said that the company informed them Monday of the layoffs, and offered all employees two choices. Employees could wait to see if they were absorbed into the plant's Chew Division, or they could accept the severance package offered by the company, which would provide one week's pay for each year an employee worked at the plant. Employees expressed concern that the move from the Personal Care Division to the Chew Division would result in a pay cut as well as fewer shifts.
"Our first priority is to take care of our employees," Todd said.
Mayor Bell said he knew very little about the layoff and that it was the first time NutraMax had ever warned him of upcoming layoffs, even though he was aware that the plant had seen layoffs in the past.
"Layoffs are never good for the city," Bell said, "NutraMax has had to layoff a considerable number of people over the past few years. The plant is continuously changing their product lines and their work force reflects that."
NutraMax
Located: Blackburn Industrial Park
Current employment: 250
What is it: The company is a developer, manufacturer, supplier and marketer of selected health and personal care products.
Products: Include cough drops, throat lozenges, adhesive bandages, medical gauzes ad tapes, first aid kits, toothbrushes, dental floss and dental accessories, travel kits, dietary supplements, ready-to-use enemas, disposable douches, pediatric oral electrolyte maintenance solution, disposable baby bottle liners.
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
