WORKSHOP WORKERS STRESSED, SAYS HOME MANAGER

PERRYVILLE -- The transition from VIP Industries to a new sheltered workshop contractor will be rough, members of Perry County's Senate Bill 40 Board said Friday.

Besides the absence of good records and allegations that the facility will be stripped bare once VIP Industries finishes operations June 30, claims of continued poor treatment of disabled workers were brought before the new board during its second meeting.

Insensitivity by VIP Industries' supervisors at Perryville's sheltered workshop is creating stress for the disabled workers, said LaVesta Colin, who manages the Terrace Gardens group home.

Colin, who has nine residents employed at the workshop, has sought additional counseling for her clients who have complained.

"They're either coming back from the workshop angry or silent," Colin said. "A couple are afraid to repeat what was said at the workshop."

A VIP manager in Perryville said she was not aware of any problems. "The employees all just gave us a thank-you card and everyone signed it," Sue Wallis said. "I guess that they're happy."

The board, which will hire a new contractor for the workshop, voted on Monday not to renew VIP Industries' contract.

"For the next 60 days, I feel like it's only going to get worse," said Dave Richardet, vice-chairman of the board.

Disabled residents at Colin's group home have told her that managers from the Cape Girardeau firm have said little work and almost no furniture will be left by the time the contract ends.

No formal announcements have been made to handicapped employees about the contract or VIP's future plans, Wallis said.

As a precaution, the Senate Bill 40 Board voted on Friday to ask the Perry County prosecutor's office to file an injunction. This would prevent VIP from removing anything from the workshop besides finished products until ownership of items in the building can be established.

The board has said many workshop items were purchased with Perry County tax money, which the board has allocated to the workshop during its 24-year existence.

A letter from the board to guardians of handicapped workshop employees will be sent out soon, said Patrick Naeger, board chairman. He hopes this will reassure them of the current board's intentions to correct problems.

The movement to allow Perry County residents to take over operations of the sheltered workshop started March 24, when the workshop's four managers resigned in protest over working conditions for the disabled.