Posted at: 08/11/2009 6:39 PM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 08/11/2009 7:52 PM
By: Deanna King

Coca Cola cuts 57 local jobs

Another factory in Rochester is cutting jobs. Coca Cola Bottling will lay off 57 employees when it stops manufacturing operations in November. Domingo Aponte has worked at the plant for 13 years. The father of 4 got the news Monday at the end of his shift. He says the news is devastating.
"The specific skills that I have are more based towards what we do here. Where do I take those skills to?"
Aponte says his co-workers are worried. They've heard stories about people with college degrees having a hard time finding work. Many of them don't even know where to look.
"I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do," said Joel Cologgi, an employee for more than 20 years. Manufacturing has been hard hit in our current recession. Many companies are going out of business or down sizing. From Kodak to Valeo, hundreds of local people are in the same boat.
"I think the challenge is for individuals who have been in these manufacturing jobs a long time their skills may not be marketable," said Connie Felder of Rochester Works. Felder says it could take even longer to find a job. People may have to consider relocating. Aponte says he has already thought about it. "Some hard decisions coming up, life altering changes," said Aponte.
There are 120 employees who will keep their jobs. The positions are mostly in sales and distribution.

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