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A former employee filing class-action lawsuit sounds off on scandal involving the White House and now-defunct solar panel company's $528 million stimu...
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-- Salinas scandal is setting people on fire why did the Obama administration push and then guarantee if five I'm 35 million dollar loan -- coming it was a wobbly at best and has now gone belly -- That only are we the taxpayers on the hook for this federally guaranteed loan but 1100.
Workers were fired on the spot would no notice by the company executives.
Peter Cole -- found o'clock class action lawsuit against a Linda.
Claiming the company failed to comply would labor laws Lehman employees in the dust would -- noticed and no severance pay.
Former -- -- employee opinion polls that joins beginning sir.
Good evening Greta.
-- tell me how impressed at how slim but still what's that.
Is this a slender.
So we make well and we made solar panels.
For.
Businesses mainland.
If for their rooftops.
And yeah you -- and -- Newark.
-- -- I've worked there for a little over for four and half years so I I started.
Almost in the beginning you know here you have -- -- -- -- was a year old at that point when I started.
Tell me how you found out that you were of essentially out the door you'd lost your job out and when that was.
Well basically it was.
On Wednesday morning I got a phone call from a -- He basically said a -- -- in the morning they're closing their doors.
You know you might not you know and I need to come in right now so.
He calls a little later and said -- there's going to be a meeting at 9 o'clock.
I should I be here aside I rushed in the -- over there and I've gotten to the meeting.
And the CEO basically -- and I explained.
That.
The company was -- -- -- stores and you know I'm gonna -- -- you know almost all the employees except for 10% herself.
So everybody was pretty shocked that news.
Nobody really said anything or ask to many questions and everybody just kind of walked out at that point.
So He spoke for -- two and you know ten minutes at the most and that we walked out to end you got there are things together in the boxes and things and went downstairs to HR and give us a pamphlet and I and I asked.
The HR person there are we gonna be getting our vacation pay as you said no you're getting you you know crude ninety days -- pay.
And I thought well that's ridiculous so you know at that point I know I I went out -- You kind of shell shocked -- know from the whole experience and you know went home and try to gather my thoughts -- the the next day.
-- -- -- And I don't take it lightly you know this whole suit.
Something I would not normally do but under the circumstances.
-- really had no choice.
Did you have any idea that the company was in trouble is there any signs now -- 120 hindsight to suggest to that this company was my word wobbling.
They were hiring people you know week prior so.
You know they were still hiring people.
Things seemed pretty normal.
You know people would.
-- coming go.
You know -- -- a transition over to manufacturing.
You know equipment was but basically all built.
So you know now was a time to start building the product and and and selling itself.
You know there was no indications that they're gonna let go.
You know a thousand employees -- when there is no no indication of that.
What is your -- what what was your job there.
Well research and development engineer working in a product development group.
So we we basically did the assembly of the -- all the pieces that it took to.
-- kind of put it together.
You know once the tube was He made it then if it was our task our group to design all the parts that kind of you brought the whole thing together into a panel.
So you know and we were you know that the feverishly working on I'm cutting costs.
Of the panel.
-- had to try and you know compete with you know the Chinese -- Basically -- To that that -- the CEO company in the -- the -- and the people of the management today love -- they live high off the hog so to speak where they Libby lavishly did this in we spending -- or not.
I would not have seen that I I don't know I don't think some.
-- -- you there when President Obama visited.
I wasn't in the building.
Highway is.
At the time I was in another building -- but I saw a live video feed.
That so it was it was it was a proud moment you have to have the president you know visit your your company and you know at that point with that while -- I think we're really gonna make it you know you know the president knows kind of backing us in a sense and you know you figure that OK you know there may be some bumpy times that you know ultimately there was never thought that they close their doors.
When you matches but Bobby ties -- were -- -- -- they did doing did you have some question whether the company was driving.
Well -- you know.
-- and each other company transitions.
From.
Elected -- these status and a sense -- manufacturing so you know employees were let go because that transition -- you know to a manufacturing.
A company so you know.
It was just a normal transition and that sends him there are there were some minor layouts here and there.
That done nothing to add to that our group and and product development really worried about that much I know we are trying to cut costs so -- we were needed.
Peter thank you and I do hope you can find it and show quickly and I'm I'm -- mindful of fact talked up the economy is and how -- it is -- to get laid off especially under these conditions but thank you very much for joining us Peter and good luck.
Thank you very much.
