WOULD IT BE out of line to suggest that the Kansas Department of Human Resources and the governor’s office keep a close eye on the state response to the massive job cuts at Tyson Fresh Meats?
There are good reasons for such attention:
F The Tyson decision to fire 1,500 workers at the Emporia plant is one of the largest — if not the largest — mass layoffs of Kansas workers in recent memory. The firings will have a measurable effect on state revenues and a measurable cost in state services.
F The state response to the firings will be handled through the Emporia Job Service Center, an arm of the Kansas Department of Human Resources. But the office is no longer managed by that department. The management of the state’s job service centers has been contracted to a private company, Dynamic Educational Systems. The Emporia firings are a good chance for the state to evaluate the quality of work being done by its contractor.
Sad to say, The Gazette’s early contacts with the service center and its management gave the impression of an agency that was caught without either a plan to respond to disastrous job losses or the clarity of organization to carry out such a plan.
In the past, when Emporia businesses — Modine, Didde and others — suddenly cut adrift large numbers of workers, the Emporia Job Service Center, then directly under state control, responded immediately. Meetings to explain jobless benefits were quickly scheduled, counseling was offered and a process was set up to connect workers and their families with health and mental-health services.
Such speed and organization has not been evident after the Tyson firings. The firings were announced Friday afternoon, but it was not until Tuesday morning that a meeting was held in Topeka to plan the state’s response.
There may be good reasons for the state’s delayed response and the apparent confusion it its front-line office. If so, we would like to hear them.
Without such explanations, we will be forced to conclude that the Kansas Job Service has lost both efficiency and direction under private management.
This creates a dangerous situation for Kansas workers and employers, especially now, as the nation teeters on the brink of recession.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
Blackshirt (anonymous) says...
I would say that the states response was quick. You wouldn't want them coming in here without all of the facts, would you? What has the City of Emporia done to prepare for a response to this situation? I know, Mr. Longbine tells them that this a perfect time to "diversify our workforce". Face it, nobody outside of the Tyson home office knew that it was coming. This is not the time to start blaming this agency or that agency. Get the people there that can help and get things rolling
January 30, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Blackshirt (anonymous) says...
And another thing, there is no Kansas Department of human resources.
January 31, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sexingthecherry (anonymous) says...
Sure there is. Google it. The first result is titled "State of Kansas, Department of Human Resources," although the department now goes by the title "Kansas Department of Labor." Same thing.
February 3, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )