BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — A Harrison County-based contractor has issued a WARN notice and says up to 200 workers could lose their jobs.
ECM Energy Services said its West Virginia Traffic Management Division, which provides services for Antero Resources, will be jobless by the end of the month after losing a competitive bid to another company.
The WARN Act notice filed with Workforce West Virginia said the layoffs could impact 80 percent of the West Virginia workforce beginning Oct. 18.
The company provides traffic attendants, pilot drivers, field supervisors, safety personnel and administrative staff to support Antero’s natural gas operations in West Virginia.
The notice said ECM was not awarded a contract renewal after serving the company for the last 10 years. Company officials said they plan to pursue other work opportunities in the area.
An Antero official said the contract that ECM held is routinely rebid.
“This is one of the many contracts Antero Resources awards. While we appreciate the work ECM has done, we bid this contract out routinely and they were not the recipient of the bid this year. Safety is our priority and we do not intend to reduce our traffic control services,” Conrad Baston, vice president of procurement and administration for Antero Resources said in a statement to MetroNews.
ECM Energy Services has not responded to a request for comment.
ECM has requested rapid-response services from Workforce West Virginia to include job-placement assistance, resume support, retraining information and unemployment benefit guidance for soon to be displaced workers