Stellarton print shop cutting 17 jobs
By AARON BESWICK Truro Bureau
Wed, Jun 8 - 4:54 AM
Seventeen print shop employees in Stellarton learned Tuesday that they’ll soon be without jobs.
Eastern Sign-Print, owned by Sobeys Inc., is closing its offset and screen printing operations, which includes brochure and novelty item printing.
Xerox Canada Ltd. will take over management, but not ownership, of Eastern Sign-Print’s other operations, which include wide-format printing.
Cynthia Thompson, a spokeswoman for Sobeys, said Xerox is making a large investment in equipment and training.
About 40 employees will keep their jobs at Eastern Sign-Print.
Thompson said about half those being laid off will be offered early retirement while the rest will receive severance packages and transitional counselling.
"There will be a stronger focus on sign printing and wide-format printing," said Thompson.
"These are the large posters and signs that you see in a grocery store."
Most of Eastern Sign-Print’s work was for Sobeys. However, Thompson said, commercial customers would be redirected "with preference" to other local print shops.
Stellarton Mayor Joe Gennoe said the loss of 17 jobs will be a blow to his town and Pictou County.
"I have friends that work there, and it is devastating to lose your job," said Gennoe.
He added that he considered Sobeys a "good corporate citizen" and had faith that terminated employees would be treated well or offered other jobs with the grocery chain.
Sobeys’ head office is located in Stellarton.
"If it’s not paying, then things do have to change," said Gennoe of the print operation.
"There are other large area print shops, and hopefully the work stays in this area."
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