Firm pleased with pool of applicants

BARTON - When National Alabama officials begin hiring workers for the Barton facility in September, they'll be able to choose from a huge pool.

Employment officials are sifting through some 8,500 applications from people interested in working at the plant, said Peter Earle, communications and public affairs counsel for National Alabama's parent company, National Steel Car.

"We are about to start a process of orientation in small groups of people as we needed them," Earle said.

Ultimately, some 1,400 to 1,800 workers will be at the plant by 2010. About 150 people will be hired starting in September.

"That's basically to work with some of our senior operational people to go down there and start up," Earle said. "Employment will be ramped up as the operation is ramped up over 2009. We would expect to have 700 to 750 workers by late 2009.

"We had originally said 1,100 to 1,200 by then, but it's likely that was a little aggressive. We want to make sure we get it right, in regard to bringing the people on so they are comfortable in learning their skills. We want to be a bit more conservative and a bit more thorough and be sure everybody is comfortable and trained in working their way up."

Felix Phillips, project manager for Alabama Industrial Development Training, said in May there were 8,000 applications, so additional applicants continue to roll in.

He said it's not unusual to have that many applicants for a major plant. Automakers Honda and Mercedes had 20,000 to 30,000 applications for plants in Alabama that employed several thousand people each.

Those interested in applying can visit the Shoals Career Center on Montgomery Avenue in Sheffield or apply online at jobs.aidt.edu/nac.

Earle said the company has been pleased with the applicants.

"When we review them, we're seeing quality," he said. "Someone might have the fundamental aspects we need, but we need to train so we can tailor them to what we need."

Job opportunities vary from welding to management to other aspects.

"We're looking for someone who wants to have a career, because we want to have them here for a long time," Earle said. "We're looking for someone interested in developing their skills."

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.