Evening star., 1961-12-25

DuU DGI WlCh, Will q POPulu
ache: It's main industry, one
which provides half its income,
is going to quit, shut down,
move out-and with it take
jobs from some $500 persons.
1T will be lousy" says one
unhappy worker. the father of
five children. His wife, hope
fully, says Il guess We'll make
out"
Organization Formed
Berwick men and women are
determined this town will grow
not die. To this end an
organization called SPIRIT"
is being formed. If needed it
will borrow the money to build
new plants for new industry,
The current dilemma resulted
when ACF Industries, Inc, an
nounced last month it would
close its Berwick plant next
October because of dwindling
business and rising operating
costs. 1t plans to transfer
railroad and subway car build
ing work to more modern and
efficient plants at Milton, Pa;
Huntington, w. Va, and st.
Louis, Mo.
The huge plant. worth about
$25 million, dominates the
town. 1t has been the economic
mainstay since 1899 for grand
fathers, fathers and sons.
A potato chip plant, employ
ing about 1000, is the biggest
industry next to ACF. Then
there are small garment mills,
a cigar factory, lamp plant.
Willing to Take Cuts
Some men, anxious to save
their jobs and their long pen
sion rights, offer to take wage
cuts. But ACF officials reply
firmly: The shutdown is ir-
reVocable.
The State already has Of
fered quick help. More is ex-
pected. State plant develop
ment loans totaling $57.600
were approved the day before
Thanksgiving. These will pro-
vide 125 new jobs.
Wayne Schuyler, 36-year-old
mayor-elect, says the COM
munity has emerged from the
initial shock and is beginning
to think straight"
Mr.. Schuyler takes over the
part time job of mayor Gt
pays $50 monthly after New
Years Day. His regular work
is a purchaser for ACF.
I'VE realize we've been hit
very hard" he says. But we
are not crying. The local gov
ernment and the public at large
are rapidly banding together
to see what can be done to
rectify our pending economic
disaster.
ACF now pays approximately
$120,000 in taxes, half of which
goes to the school district.
Union Has Stake
The union has a big stake
in prospective transition. Local
1864 of the United Steelworkers
never figured ACF would ever
leave. just 10 months ago it
dedicated a new 100000 union
hall.
Paul Simon, 40-year-old union
president who has four chill
dren, says, We'll fare out of
it all right. We have a lot to
offer here. We have a nice
town, a low tax rate, a brand
new high school, a brand new
hospital, and a largely skilled
work force"
Mr.. Simon'S wife, secretary,
says, Most women don't want
to leave. At least, I don't. Just
because an industry moves out,
it doesn't mean we should leave
too. But I do hope we get a
plant that works IL months
a year instead of g."
It is this on-off employment
that long nettled the women.
Peak employment always was
at the start of the year. It
Stacked off in summer, picked
up in the fall, then usually
petered out for Thanksgiving
and Christmas.
Good pay, however, made this
cyclical employment attractive.
Today it averages $2.81 an
hour (plus free disqualification
and a $4,000 insurance policy
compared to 81 or slightly more
in other area industry.
ACF was formed through
merger of 13 of the nations
biggest railroad car builders.
Berwick is the parent plant,
(sG9