DeWITT — United Radio is planning to eliminate 15 unprofitable lines of work by the end of March. “Basically, we are looking to restructure a little bit,” says President Phil Rubenstein. The company has notified 30 workers their positions are being eliminated in seven weeks as the firm moves away from work for electronics companies […]
DeWITT — United Radio is planning to eliminate 15 unprofitable lines of work by the end of March.
“Basically, we are looking to restructure a little bit,” says President Phil Rubenstein.
The company has notified 30 workers their positions are being eliminated in seven weeks as the firm moves away from work for electronics companies that doesn’t pay well enough, he says.
When workers were notified of the changes, they were given an application to transfer to one of the available positions in the company. Right now, United Radio has 20 open spots, Rubenstein says.
“I hope we get to the end of March and nobody is affected,” Rubenstein says.
He says that some 15 companies that turn to United Radio for customer support or repair work aren’t bringing United Radio a profit. “They recognize that we provide them with the highest level of service,” he says, “they just aren’t always willing to pay.”
The planned changes include the elimination of the department that provides in-home repair on televisions and appliances. United Radio has six employees in that department, Rubenstein says. Overall, the company has 420 employees in DeWitt and another 130 in Peachtree, Georgia.
Rubenstein adds that the changes are in line with what United Radio has been doing since Jacob Rubenstein founded the business in 1923. “My grandfather recognized that for an endeavor to be successful, it must be beneficial to both sides.”
United Radio is a repairer and remanufacturer of high-tech and automotive electronics. It has contracts to provide services to electronics companies. It supplies radio and other communication devices and services for first responders. The company also has a research and development section that looks at new ways to repair equipment, ways to improve product design, and has received patents for hardware and software.
Rubenstein adds that United Radio hasn’t closed the door on the companies it plans to drop. “We’re still in conversations with some of them.”
Rubenstein says the latest changes will have no effect on the company’s announced expansion plans. In January, the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA) board approved tax abatements that could save United Radio $247,520 in mortgage, sales and property taxes on expansion at 5717 Enterprise Parkway, next to its current building at 5703 Enterprise Parkway. OCIDA documents show the economic benefits from the expansion would top $22 million, including more than $12 million in wages and nearly $2.5 million in employee benefits.
Rubenstein stresses that other contingencies still need to be met for the expansion to go forward.
