Loss of Contracts Prompts Layoffs at AFL Web

VOORHEES, NJ—Reeling from the loss of two major contracts worth $10 million, AFL Web Printing laid off 63 employees, including 49 at its headquarters here, the Bergen Record reported. The impacted workers were press operators, finance and administration, sales and customer service, plus shipping and handling employees.

AFL notified the N.J. Department of Labor in accordance with state law and the federal WARN Act.

The newspaper quoted Patrick LoPresti—president of the Local 1-L of the Amalgamated Lithographers of America—as saying the layoffs were prompted at least in part by the loss of a contract to print the Metro, a free newspaper for commuters in Philadelphia and New York.

According to the Record, the union has been trying to organize AFL's workers and has been attempting to negotiate a contract with the printer ever since employees voted to unionize in 2010.

AFL Web Printing is owned by private equity firm Westbury Partners.