[T]he North American headquarters of Finland-based Nokian Tyres is moving out of Colchester to Tennessee, costing an unknown number of the 65 jobs at the Vermont facility, a company official has confirmed.
Hans Dyhrman, marketing director at the company’s Vermont headquarters, said in an interview Monday that Nokian is opening its first North American manufacturing plant near Chattanooga in eastern Tennessee, and has decided to move its regional headquarters operations there as well.
The move is expected to be completed by next year, but could take longer, Dyhrman said. Some of the Colchester employees will be invited to move to the company’s facility in Tennessee while others will be invited to stay on in Colchester, where the company will maintain a warehouse and operations center.
Lindsay Kurrle, Vermont’s commissioner of labor, said following a WCAX report last week that the company had not reached out to her department to tell of its plans. State law calls on companies planning large-scale layoffs to inform the state 60 days before workers are asked to leave. Kurrle said if Nokian’s cuts are not planned until next year, it still easily could comply.
A message left for Kurrle on Monday seeking an update on the situation drew no immediate response.
Such a notification typically prompts the Labor Department to offer workers help with job placement, including resume writing and job interview skills, “designed to help affected workers shorten their transition time,” Kurrle said.
Nokian formerly was an affiliate of Nokia, an industrial conglomerate based in Nokia, Finland, that is best known as a manufacturer of mobile phones. Nokian split from its original parent company in 2003 with Japanese tire maker Bridgestone becoming a significant shareholder.
Nokian makes summer and winter tires for cars, trucks and heavy equipment. It is considered a leader in the winter tire industry, with its flagship Hakkapeliitta brand.
In an article posted to the company website, Nokian boasted of being named one of the best places to work in Vermont in 2018.
“Nokian Tyres strives to ensure its workers stay happy, healthy and motivated, as demonstrated with ten employees exceeding 20 years of service and three employees over 30 years of service,” it said.
