While Bradford Forest Inc. cites an unwilling, unskilled local workforce as the reason for hiring Hispanic laborers through a temporary employment agency, several other local companies disagree with that assessment.

When contacted Tuesday, Bradford Forest Inc. President Mark Conolly challenged a reporter to call other human resource directors in the area to find out how they felt about the available unskilled workforce in Bradford.

Those that answered or returned calls generally agreed that they have been able to find and sustain workers as needed.

“We don’t seem to have any problems generally speaking,” said Dale Perry, Human Resource Manager of Dresser Manufacturing Division of Dresser Industries Inc. “We use (Pa.) CareerLink or advertise in the paper and we generally make out very well with applicants.”

Perry did admit that the market is not always good with fewer responses, but he attributed that to more people being employed in the oil fields and elsewhere.

“Sometimes they just don’t match up with industry,” added Perry.

He also said Dresser does not experience a large turnover rate and as far as he knows, the company has never had to use the same type of program that Bradford Forest is using in hiring a temp agency to employ workers from outside the area.

According to Mary Jo Sandy, human resources director, this is the first year Bradford Forest Inc. has tried this type of hiring practice and she said it has worked out well for the company.

Donna Henderson, human resources manager of Zippo Manufacturing Co., said the firm has not done much hiring in the last couple of years, but they use Pa. CareerLink-McKean County and never lack for potential candidates when they do.

“We don’t have any problems filling jobs,” said Henderson. “And the turnover rate is quite low. It hasn’t been a problem for us because I think we have a generous benefits package, our starting rate is generous, and our three-month temporary period hourly rate increases substantially.

“I feel we are one of the premier employers in Bradford,” she added. “Filling positions has never been an issue for us.”

Career Specialist at CareerLink, Dennis Scully, said some companies do find it difficult to find new hires, but others might seem more attractive for various reasons.

He said as far as finding employees that do show up for work, it could be difficult.

“We offer a work-readiness skills program for people teaching them how to be punctual and show up,” added Scully.

“But the use of temp services are big for some,” he said.

Human Resources Director for W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co., Bunny Comilla, said Case has not had to use an agency that hires outside of the Bradford area.

“There is still a decent pool available,” said Comilla. “Work ethic might be on a decline, they are looking for different type of work, or for a shorter term than the long run, but we haven’t found that need yet.”

She explained they held a career fair in February at CareerLink and saw interested job applicants from as far away as Jamestown, N.Y. She said about 150 people showed for the fair where Case conducted mini-interviews and pre-testing.

“We probably hired 25-plus from that. We are contemplating doing that again,” she added.

Comilla also said they lose employees from time to time from normal attrition based on questionable attendance patterns and through growth in the community including the new casino and the fact that several other businesses are doing well.

She said the company’s longevity in the area, growth, benefits package and pay rate must contribute to their success in retaining employees.

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