By Wally Kennedy
Globe Staff Writer
JOPLIN, Mo. —
Joplin Workshops, which provides employment for 144 disabled people, will lose a major laundry contract with Freeman Health System on Sept. 1.
The contract with Freeman accounts for 30 percent of Joplin Workshops’ laundry business.
“I don’t want to lose 30 percent of our employees. We are working hard to fill that capacity back up,’’ said Ron Sampson, director of Joplin Workshops.
The employees, who are paid an hourly wage, will experience a cutback in the number of hours they will work. The cutbacks will vary according to the jobs they perform in the laundry.
In the meantime, Joplin Workshops is exploring creation of a new recycling business with Downstream Casino and Resort that could help bring additional work to the workshop’s employees and fill the void.
Christen Stark, media coordinator for Freeman Health System, released this statement about Freeman’s decision: “Following the economic downturn in 2008 and a $20 million deficit, Freeman Health System began to review contracts that expired in 2009 and 2010.
“While Freeman respects the value of Healthcare Linen Specialists and its employees, another company submitted a bid for laundry services that provided substantial savings over a five-year period. In order to continue our mission of improving the healthcare of the communities we serve, we must operate with fiscal responsibility to serve the best interests of our patients.’’
The recycling project with Downstream involves the reuse of unused shampoo and conditioner, and bar soap from the casino’s hotel. Sampson said the idea was being championed by John Berrey, chairman of the Quapaw Tribe.
Sean Harrison, spokesman for Downstream, said, “It’s a good project in a number of ways. Recycling is good for the environment, giving away the recycled product to the homeless shelters helps people and it gives Joplin Workshops additional work to do.
For more of this story, see Saturday's edition of The Joplin Globe.
