Technicolor: local jobs not moving to Mexico
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Contrary to published news reports, entertainment giant Technicolor is not moving manufacturing jobs to Mexico, according to Technicolor spokesperson Season Skuro.

The Thomson-owned company announced in January plans to cut 1,200 jobs throughout its North American facilities, including 630 jobs at their Camarillo manufacturing and shipping plant.

The DVD manufacturer is making the job cuts in an effort to offer more competitive pricing of its digital video discs.

Those jobs, however, are being eliminated and not moved to Mexico, according to Tom Bracken, a company spokesperson.

Bracken said no new hires have been made at the company's existing manufacturing plant in Guadalajara, Mexico. He said companywide job cuts have also been made at the Mexico facility.

Although the entertainment industry enjoyed double-digit growth in DVD sales over several years, those numbers have slowed down considerably, forcing major film studios to scout for better pricing, the company said.

Technicolor, the world's largest DVD maker, will continue to house its corporate offices and produce what's known in the industry as "high optical" DVDs out of its two Camarillo buildings, Skuro said.

The company doesn't have exact figures, but a large number of the laidoff employees have already found jobs, Skuro said.

Layoffs at one of Camarillo's largest employers began in January and will continue through August. More than 530 people have been laid off in Camarillo so far, leaving about 600 workers, she said.

City Manager Jerry Bankston said that although manufacturing jobs are an important part of the city's job base, they only account for about 10 percent of the overall employment. Job growth has been in the pharmaceutical, research and development and medical industries, he said.

Bankston said that Technicolor, the county and state employment agencies apparently have responded quickly to the laid-off workers.

"We're not seeing problems, so we have to believe that in fact their programs are working," Bankston said.

Because foreign competition prompted the Camarillo layoffs, technicolor employees may be eligible for additional job-seeking benefits, said Kevin Callori, an official with the state Employment Development Department.

Once the usual unemployment checks stop, laid-off workers who are attending a job training program could be eligible for an additional 52 weeks of pay.

Paid vocational and job training programs may be included.

According to Christy Norton, program coordinator for the county's business and employment services, 279 Technicolor employees attended an orientation on what benefits they may be entitled to.

The Camarillo Acorn wants to hear from former Technicolor employees who have lost their jobs during the recent layoffs. Please call (805) 484-2403.