Hubbell Lighting Inc. in Christiansburg dismissed 20 employees effective Friday in a recession-related work force reduction, union President Penny Franklin said Wednesday.

Franklin, a company employee and president of Local 82160 of the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers, said 14 people were previously laid off Sept. 25.

The company declined to comment when asked about work force reductions.

Franklin said a scarcity of orders is to blame for the job losses.

"Management is working very hard and we're working very hard with them, too, to adjust to what's going on. But, unfortunately, the orders, the customers, at this point are not there," Franklin said.

She estimated that the work force at the plant has fallen below 200 from about 350 a year ago.

In addition to cutting jobs, the company made light fixtures only four days last week. More four-day weeks are possible, Franklin said.

It looks to Franklin as if orders could be soft until construction picks up.

"I'm holding my breath we get through the winter and make it to spring and things start turning around for everybody," said Franklin, who has worked at the plant for 22 years.

The Hubbell plant belongs to Hubbell Inc., an Orange, Conn., maker of electrical and electronic products. The company earned $222.7 million, or $3.94 a share, on revenue of $2.7 billion in 2008.

During the first six months of 2009, it earned $73.7 million, or $1.30 a share, on revenue of $1.17 billion, according to filings.