Shoe Workers Get Hefty Dose of Holiday Cheer

December 15, 2003 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The holiday season is certainly merry and bright this year - at least for the employees of a Pittsfield, Maine shoe plant.

Instead of a more typical frozen turkey, the 200 workers at SAS Shoemakers walked away with hefty year-end bonuses that for some totaled almost $20,000, according to an Associated Press report.

The company gave workers $1,000 for every year of service. Even those who had worked less than a year got $500 each. It was a small bit of good news in an economic sector that has been particularly hard hit by the downturn.

When Lawrence Wyman opened his bonus envelope, he told reporters that he found a check for $19,000. His wife, Charlene, got a check for the same amount. “They called us all together and said we would each get $1,000,” Wyman recalled. “Everyone started clapping and then they said it would be $1,000 for each year worked.”

SAS Pittsfield is a division of SAS Shoemakers in San Antonio.

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