Oceanside factory closing, laying off workers

An Oceanside laundry and dry cleaner is going to close in June and lay off many of its workers.

Ocean Side Institutional Industries, which cleans linens and laundry for clients including hospitals and nursing homes, announced that it is going to close its factory on 2525 Long Beach Road, and lay off 171 workers. A notice from the state Department of Labor said that the factory is closing for economic reasons. Layoffs will happen between June 15 and June 18, while the factory will close on June 18.

The workers, mostly Spanish-speaking, are very said about the situation, according to employee and union representative Francisco Zapata.

“I’m very concerned,” Zapata said through a translator. “My people are going to lose our jobs.” He has worked at the plant for 19 years, where he receives trucks that come in with laundry and linen from clients.

He said there has been no information if employees will be transferred to Ocean Side Institutional’s other locations.

Ocean Side Institutional did not answer phone calls requesting comment. According to its website, the company has 400 employees and four locations, which serve New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland.