COMMERCE, Ga. — More than 100 people working at a major book distribution company’s metro Atlanta facility are suddenly without a job.
Baker & Taylor laid off more than 500 people nationwide without warning, and dozens of them worked at a facility in Commerce.
The company plans to fully wind down operations by January after an acquisition deal with ReaderLink fell through.
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Channel 2’s Audrey Washington traveled to Commerce on Thursday and spoke with some of the former employees who say the news came as a shock.
“I lost it. I bawled, I cried the entire day,” said Karli Prater, who is also pregnant. “How am I going to pay my bills? How am I going to put food on the table? I can’t do that.”
Employees told Washington that they are not receiving severance pay.
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Another long-time employee, Ted Yonce, said he feels like employees were treated as numbers rather than people.
“I need insurance. I need a way to take care of my medicines,” he said.
The Director of Finance in Commerce has offered assistance with utility payment options for those affected by the sudden job loss.
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