Holcim will temporarily cut 70 hourly positions at its Catskill plant effective until January, Plant Manager Deon van den Berg announced Tuesday.

The layoffs will affect 65 workers — nearly two-thirds of its current workforce — and five others on short-term disability or workers compensation, van den Berg said in a statement.

He did not elaborate on the types of workers who will be let go. Tony Madrazo, the plant’s human resources manager, could not be reached for comment.



Tuesday’s layoffs were the second such action taken by Holcim in as many years and the latest sign the stalled economic recovery continues to take its toll on the cement manufacturer.

In May 2009, 35 workers were temporarily laid off. Two months earlier 26 positions were eliminated.



“The reason for this temporary layoff include slow market conditions, the normal seasonal slowdown in construction and escalating costs,” van den Berg said in an e-mail to members of the Holcim Community Advisory Committee, a regular gathering of local leaders and plant officials.
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