By PEGGY KING

peggy.king@gaflnews.com

VIENNA — Roseburg Forest Products’ particleboard plant here has begun phasing out 47 jobs, and a new work schedule will commence within the next two weeks, according to Hank Snow, vice president of human resources at the company’s headquarters in Roseburg, Ore.

Downturns in the economy have hit the housing and building products industry particularly hard, Snow said. To keep the Vienna plant running, he said, management made the decision this week to downsize and run three days a week for 24 hours with two 12-hour shifts.

Among the employees whose jobs have been eliminated, he said, are both hourly and salaried people. In addition, some formerly salaried persons have been moved back to hourly.

The new schedule should begin within the next two weeks, Snow added.