Milton's largest private employer lays off 30

By STACY VOGEL ( Contact )   Friday, Jan. 2, 2009
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The Freedom Graphics building at 1011 S. Janesville St. in Milton.

The Freedom Graphics building at 1011 S. Janesville St. in Milton.

— Thirty more people joined the area's growing ranks of unemployed after Milton's largest private employer laid off about 15 percent of its workforce Monday.

Freedom Graphic Systems, 1101 S. Janesville St., laid off 30 of its 175 Milton employees because of decreasing orders, Executive Vice President Richard Greene said.

The direct mailing company has seen its orders decrease 15 to 30 percent this year, Greene said.

"We had thought the economy might perk up, but the longer the lower volumes continued, the longer it became apparent that we can't sustain the workforce that we had," he said.

The company was founded in Milton in 1986 and now employs about 900 people at locations nationwide. It is in the midst of layoffs at its other locations, too, Greene said.

Freedom Graphics had high hopes in 2007 when it built a second Milton facility—a $3.5 million office, warehouse and production building—in the city's industrial park at 1475 E. High St. The city used tax incremental financing to sell the property to the company for one dollar.

At the time, the company expected continued growth in orders and employment. As many as 200 temporary employees joined permanent workers at times to help with day-to-day changes in work volume, Greene said.

Lately, the company has hired very few temps, he said.

Yet Greene believes the new building was a good investment despite the latest layoffs.

"We don't know when things will turn, but when they do, we're ready," he said.







reader COMMENTS (17)
wcm4life
Jan 4, 2009 at 3:39 p.m.
Suggest removal

Jotter is in the phone book . but I would not waste your call on that one they are not delivering the jotter after Jan. 28th I think it is. The messager is one that is in the phone book. It use to be easier when you just hung them on a hook by the mail boxes. The gazette is the one that gives direction where it should be put. The other ones is more of a common sense but not all have it. I am sorry I was not saying you were picking on kids. It is just not all the paper boys throw them were they do not belong and it makes me mad that some do not take this job more serious. I work very hard on my children that you always do what you would like done to you. There for you do the job right. Work ethics start some where.:)

whatitdo
Jan 4, 2009 at 9:28 a.m.
Suggest removal

I would be happy to call. Do you have the number thaks.I was a paper boy. I put the paper in the door or where ever it was requested. I'm not picking on kids. During the last snow storm a pick up truck was deliviring and they were throwing them out the window into the snow banks.

wcm4life
Jan 4, 2009 at 9:04 a.m.
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Really? Well if you have a phone use it cause most who deliver the papers are kids. they do not read all these blogs that are nothing but a b------- post:)

whatitdo
Jan 4, 2009 at 8:51 a.m.
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No need to be rude. wcm4lifE
It's rude to throw that paper all around when it's not wanted. I'm very tired of picking that paper up along with 6 others that aren't mine because people ignore them and let them blow away. last year one wrecked my snow blower.

ethylene58
Jan 3, 2009 at 8:45 a.m.
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Oh that's just great. I thought it was hard to get through to unemployment before, now there will be 30 more people trying to get through as well. It's not bad enough that the automated phone system is screwed up, but the online system is screwed up too. The State needs to hire more people to help the unemployed get their well deserved compensation before they have to resort to bankruptcy.

wcm4life
Jan 3, 2009 at 7:43 a.m.
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"As long as we're on junk mail, could the city write a law that disallowed those messengers thrown willy-nilly on our property and thrown willy-nilly on abandoned properties" If you call the messanger or jotter or what ever one is on the property. They will than pass it on to the people not to deliver to those properties. Most of the people that deliver are younger people and they are only doing what thier job tells them. No need to be rude.

westorbust
Jan 2, 2009 at 6:22 p.m.
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Gladiator is correct. I am one of those laid off. FGS contracts with companies like Staff on Site to provide a large number of very cheap employees, illegals, or pretty much anyone with a pulse. While the temp services hire the employees, companies like Freedom Graphics also bear responsibility utilizing companies that hire them. It's not like they didn't know. Over the past months many of the illegals left due to SSN verification issues with their respective temp services.

On an entirely different note, I'm sure that those temps will get a phone call to return to work long before I get one. The temps were still working when they gave me my termination papers. Thanks.

peechy
Jan 2, 2009 at 3:56 p.m.
Suggest removal

At 10:15am Yooper didn't know where this place was and 12 minutes later he knew I.C.E had been notified.

Gladiatorfootball12
Jan 2, 2009 at 3:56 p.m.
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Lets just straighten things out. I'm not saying it's okay to do this, but this is how things work for those that have no clue. Businesses like FGS contract a temporary agency to provide FGS and businesses alike, with employees. This rids businesses of MANY but NOT ALL liabilities of employing employees. The biggest of which is health insurance, but next would be employing "illegals". It's on the temporary agency to make sure that all employees are US citizens and or carry an HB-1 Visa or something alike.

Next, as long as there are people spending money on credit cards, "JUNK MAIL" will always be around. Credit Card Companies are happy to have a little less than 1% return on their junk mail.

biggirl
Jan 2, 2009 at 3:18 p.m.
Suggest removal

As long as we're on junk mail, could the city write a law that disallowed those messengers thrown willy-nilly on our property and thrown willy-nilly on abandoned properties? When I bought my house, which had been foreclosed upon, there were countless newspapers on the porch.

Detroito
Jan 2, 2009 at 11:17 a.m.
Suggest removal

The owners should be put in prison. Lets see what the investigation brings.

LOVEISGOOD
Jan 2, 2009 at 10:56 a.m.
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Like I said to begin with .. There is always more to the story !

janesvillean
Jan 2, 2009 at 10:31 a.m.
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Direct mailing includes "junk mail", but also materials for existing customer relationships.
https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/static/lea...
.
It is an industry tied very closely to the business cycle.

Yooper
Jan 2, 2009 at 10:27 a.m.
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Let's just say i know someone in a supervisory position there. The I.C.E. office in Milwaukee has been notified.

ihavealife
Jan 2, 2009 at 10:20 a.m.
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yooper..How or why do you know that ??

Yooper
Jan 2, 2009 at 10:15 a.m.
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Is that the place on hwy. 26 that employees numerous illegal aliens?

greengina8
Jan 2, 2009 at 9:52 a.m.
Suggest removal

So does this company produce junk mail? What else do they do? It's unfortunate that so many people have to lose their jobs, regardless. I do have to wonder how long before the rest of the company goes under, though. Junk mail is not in demand, and I can't imagine an increase in the need for junk mail in the future. If I am wrong as to what this company does, I apologize, but it's my understanding they produce direct to consumer advertising.

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