Large layoff at Penticton modular building manufacturer

PENTICTON – A Penticton manufacturer of modular buildings suddenly laid off a large portion of its workforce earlier this month.

Britco Manager of Marketing and Communications Meghan Cairns couldn’t say how many employees are affected by the layoff, announced April 7, but did say a few employees are still at work reconfiguring production lines at Britco’s facility located at 1704 Government St. in Penticton.

“We have curtailed our production line at the moment because we’re reconfiguring the plant to build both single family homes and commercial projects,” Cairns says.

Cairns says the company hopes to call employees back in the future, based on need.

“We’re not shutting the doors, just a curtailing for now. We’re still committed to the Penticton community,” she says, adding the intent of the company is to reopen the plant, the future date of which is unknown at this point.

Britco's parent company, Western One, announced the sale of Britco’s rental and U.S. manufacturing businesses on March 6 to Black Diamond Group and a group of investors led by Britco USA’s management team.

The press release noted Western One was evaluating strategic options for Britco’s Canadian manufacturing operations, which “continue to be negatively impacted by the recent downturn in western Canadian markets.”

A month later, Western One announced the signing of an agreement with Triple M Modular Ltd., to purchase Britco’s Canadian operations on April 7, the same day the Penticton layoffs were announced.

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