Durham Furniture Eliminating 80 Workers

Strength of Canadian dollar, weak U.S. retail furniture market blamed for cuts.

CHESLEY, Ontario (CP) - Some 80 workers are losing their jobs at the Durham Furniture facility in the Canadian town of Chesley, Ont., south of Owen Sound. The company is also going to close portions of the plant and move its manufacturing operations to its facility in Durham Region.

Company chairman Michael Pitman says the moves are the result of continued weakness in the U.S. retail furniture market. He also blames the strength of the Canadian dollar.

The 80 layoffs are in addition to 150 employees laid off in 2005.

Durham Furniture manufactures solid wood bedroom furniture and employees more than 500 people.

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