Job fair set to help Noranda employees

A community resource and job fair is planned to assist those who were recently laid off from or face layoffs at Noranda Aluminum in New Madrid, Missouri.

The job fair will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Sikeston, Missouri, Three Rivers College Campus.

The job fair was announced by state Rep. Holly Rehder, who issued a news release after the announcement last week Noranda would layoff 350 employees by Feb. 4.

"This is a devastating blow to our families and our economy. We are working with Noranda as well as local, state and federal agencies to find any solution or aid available," Rehder said in the release.

Rehder also urged all Noranda employees to attend a meeting with the Workforce Development Board of Southeast Missouri at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the Steel Workers Union Hall in Marston, Missouri.

State Rep. Tila Hubrecht also issued a news release about the New Madrid smelter. It stated she wrote a letter to Gov. Jay Nixon requesting he work with legislators to find a resolution that will support Missouri jobs, saying the loss of Noranda will have "devastating consequences in the Bootheel, the entire Southeast Missouri area, as well as the state."

Hubrecht has worked with other representatives and Missouri Senate to seek a solution and has contacted the offices of U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith to discuss possible solutions, according to the release.

Both releases stated legislators are exploring every option available to try to save the jobs, or provide other employment options to affected families.

Hubrecht cites regulations, unfair trade laws and competition with China as the cause of Noranda's problems.

Rehder said "high corporate taxes and an unlevel playing field in employment and trade practices are destroying manufacturing across America."

"My prayers are with the workers and families of Noranda who have been so horribly impacted by these recent events," Hubrecht said in the release.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

1400 S. Main St., Sikeston, Mo.

PO Box 1, Marston, Mo.