ROCHESTER — The formal announcement Friday by Xerox about its split into two businesses has left many people asking what is in story for the future, as well as its 6,500 local employees.
Concern was widespread among those individuals who live in downtown Rochester, as well as Xerox employees themselves.
Kathy Belli is a Xerox employee said there is always a fear of layoffs. Xerox is Rochester’s fourth largest employer with 6,575 employees.
“This news doesn’t change my fear," Belli said. "I mean, there’s no security anywhere.”
Xerox CEO Ursula Burns confirmed that the company will be split into a business focused on document technology and another on business processing.
Burns, who was named CEO in 2009, said that jobs could be lost.
“Our workforce will shrink very likely,” said Burns, “but it does every year as it becomes possible to do more with less.”
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, in the past has stepped in to fight to keep jobs in New York, most recently after a reorganization at Kraft that threatened closure of a plant in Avon last year.
Schumer said he was initially worried after learning the news, but after reaching out to Burns, he said he was reassured that Xerox remains committed to Rochester.
“She assured me that this split wouldn’t impact current job levels, or Xerox’s footprint in Rochester,” said Schumer. “There’s no plan to pack up and leave.”
Schumer said that if Xerox ever needed help to continue operating in Rochester, he would fight to protect local workers.
“I’ll do anything to keep these jobs in Rochester,” said Schumer. “I was successful when Hickey Freeman had its financial problems and take-over, and Bausch and Lomb had it twice, and not only keeping the jobs here, but actually growing them at those two companies, and I would try to do the very same for Xerox.
“These jobs are good paying jobs, they’re very important to Rochester and to Webster, and to the whole Rochester/Finger Lakes area…. and I’m gonna watch this like a hawk. In business you’ll never know what happens, but I will watch it very, very carefully and hopefully we’ll have the same success we had at Bausch and Lomb, and Hickey Freeman.”
Bob Duffy of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo pledge support. They promised to do their best to keep Xerox in Rochester, and assist employees who may be affected by the company’s split.
Burns said she expects the separation to take place by the end of the year. It is also almost certain that the Xerox name will remain with one of the two companies.
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