Armstrong Scaling Back in Tennessee

Jackson, TN, Feb. 12, 2009--Armstrong World Industries said it will indefinitely lay off 110 people from its local hardwood flooring plant, according to the Jackson Sun.

The layoffs include five salaried employees and constitute the entire second shift, said Beth Riley, vice president of corporate communications in Lancaster, Pa.

"We are going from three shifts to two shifts," Riley said.

"(This) is all due to the continuing significant decline in the residential housing market," Riley said, "as wood flooring is a residential housing product."

Armstrong currently employs 403 in Jackson, of which 368 are hourly. The plant will have 263 hourly employees and 30 salaried employees after the Feb. 18 layoffs. Armstrong took over the local plant during its 1998 acquisition of Triangle Pacific, Riley said.