Mayor Kogon reassured LED Roadway to be in Amherst for a long time

AMHERST – Amherst Mayor Dr. David Kogon is disappointed with LED Roadway Lighting’s decision to cut jobs at its Amherst location.

['Liberal Premier Stephen McNeil and Cumberland North MLA Terry Farrell look over the assembly line at LED Roadway Lighting with company executive vice-president of operations Dave Scott during a campaign stop at the facility in October. The company announced this week it has begun recalling employees that were laid off in the fall.']

However, he accepts the company’s reassurances that it remains committed to the town.
“Even one job lost is one too many, but it is good that they see a future in Amherst,” the mayor said Wednesday. “We hate to lose any jobs in Amherst but they have told us Amherst will have a very important role to play in their company.”
On Tuesday, LED Roadway Lighting CEO Peter Conlon told the Amherst News that restructuring at the Amherst manufacturing facility has resulted in the cutting of 40 jobs. Conlon said the facility is moving from a product assembly operation to one of product planning, logistics, scheduling and operations.
The plant will still manufacture some product for the Canadian and U.S. market and focus on its Satellite series of lights, but Conlon said the company’s growth globally requires product to be assembled in-country in its new markets.
Kogon said he has spoke to officials at LED Roadway Lighting and understands the challenges the company is facing when it comes to competing globally. He said many countries in which the company is attempting to sell its lights require them to be assembled there.
New Cumberland North MLA-elect Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin said she’s disappointed with the news.
“LED is a private company and we know in the business world that supply and demand controls businesses ability to succeed or not,” she said. “It is my hope that the business will persevere through challenging times and be able to grow in the future, hiring more people.”
Smith-McCrossin, who takes over officially as the MLA later this week, said she’s willing to work with the displaced workers to help find future work opportunities through Nova Scotia Works (CANSA).
The company has operated as LED Roadway Lighting and C-Vision since 2002 when Halifax businessman Chuck Cartmill purchased the former assets of Celestica.
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