TIFTON — Approximately 200 people will lose their jobs at Shaw Industries Plant WK in Tifton in the next four weeks after the company decided to reduce its workforce primarily because of the downturn in the housing industry.

Shaw Industries Group, Inc., announced its decision to reduce employees at the spun yarn facility in Tifton in a press release Wednesday.

“The demand for interior finishes, including carpet and other flooring products, remains at reduced levels due to the continuing difficulties of the housing sector. During these times, customer preference is evolving, creating shifts in demand to carpet product types other than those made with spun yard. The reduction of the workforce at Plant WK is an unfortunate but necessary step in order to balance the company’s production with the existing and future customer demand,” the press release stated.

The company closed one of its Tifton plants in August 2006 and 228 people lost their jobs with the company then. The two plants were combined and with Wednesday’s announced layoffs, approximately 370 people will remain employed at the plant.

Fitzgerald’s Shaw Industries plant, which had been in operation since 1983, closed in November 2007. The company recently announced the expansion of its filament yarn facility in Calhoun.

Shaw representatives stated in the press release that the company will provide “immediate support to assist impacted associates during the time of transition” and that the company’s central hiring office will make an effort to match displaced workers with openings in other Shaw locations. Shaw is also partnering with the Georgia Department of Labor’s Rapid Response Team to provide on-site one-on-one sessions to counsel employees, explain benefits and to provide out-placement and retraining.

The company is contacting regional employers to help identify future career opportunities for affected associates that do not relocate to other Shaw plants.

“The company expresses its sincere gratitude to the impacted associates at Plant WK, for their years of support and service. The decision to reduce the plant’s labor force in no way reflects on their performance,” the press release stated.

Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brad Day said Wednesday that the Chamber will meet Friday with the First Focus Crisis Team, composed of representatives from Moultrie Tech, the Tiftarea Human Resources Council, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and area temporary employment agencies. He added that he had met with Shaw General Manager Donnie Robertson earlier in the day and that the chamber had been visiting the company regularly.

Day noted that the community's strategy to deal with significant layoffs includes placing employees with temporary agencies, filling available jobs and holding job fairs.

"The Department of Labor will go in and talk to the employees about their rights and benefits," he said.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families these jobs represent."