The Volvo Trucks North America plant in Dublin will lay off 21 hourly workers this week and another 28 possibly next week, a union official said Thursday.
Bill Burton, president of United Auto Workers Local 2069, said the layoffs are based on seniority. The first group of workers was hired in August; the second group, whose number hasn’t been finalized, includes workers hired after July 12.
Volvo spokesman Phil Romba said Thursday he will continue a company policy of not commenting to The Roanoke Times. The Dublin plant, which has 3,225 workers, is the New River Valley’s second-largest employer.
Volvo began a $148 million expansion project in July that company officials said would create 1,277 new jobs. So far this year Volvo has hired at least 725 new assemblers and started a second shift that produces 42 tractors a day.