Mohawk Says No Cuts at Wayn-Tex

Augusta, County, VA February 10--Will the recent purchase of Wayn-Tex by a Georgia-based carpet manufacturer have an impact on the size of the workforce at the Waynesboro plant? The Augusta Free Press ask that question to a spokesman for the Calhoun, Ga.,-based Mohawk Industries tell it, the answer is a clear no. "Mohawk already has a long-standing relationship with Wayn-Tex from our years of purchasing materials from Wayn-Tex. It has been a positive relationship, and we are looking forward to continuing that relationship. We are also looking forward to building a positive relationship with the community there in Waynesboro," the company's human-resources director, David Westerfield, told The Augusta Free Press in response to questions about the possible impact on the local plant operations of the move. The official word doesn't jibe with reports coming out of the local plant that have a number of front-office employees losing their jobs in the coming weeks. Westerfield declined the opportunity to comment on the reports. Wayn-Tex, which operated manufacturing facilities in Waynesboro and Hillsville, employed 550 people at the time of its purchase by Mohawk Industries on Jan. 31. Mohawk is the second-leading manufacturer of residential carpets and rugs in the United States and employs 33,000 people.