One of Waynesboro's largest employers plans to trim more than 100 jobs by the end of the year.

Invista announced 110 layoffs Wednesday at its Waynesboro plant.

The company says current market conditions make the cuts necessary. The plant makes Lycra fiber for socks and apparel, and conducts spandex research.

It halted its nylon production amid layoffs last year.

As Waynesboro residents are hearing the news of these layoffs, some say they saw it coming.

Bruce Wiseman says he left Invista earlier this year because the company seemed to be struggling.

He says he feels sorry for the workers who are now being let go without a choice. Wiseman says he's saddened by the news of more layoffs.

"I still got a lot of friends down there and I really hate to see anything else happen to that plant. I mean that's a big employer for the city of Waynesboro," says Wiseman.

Wiseman says he had other opportunities there, but he took early retirement from the company in February.

"I just didn't see a real good future down there because it looks like it's been, ever since Invista took over, it looks like it's been going downhill ever since. Cutting jobs and it didn't seem like a good place for me at the time," says Wiseman.

Invista said last year that it would restart the idled nylon facility when market conditions dictated.

"Now the market conditions do not dictate its restart for the immediate future, but we will continue to evaluate the market, and when market conditions dictate, we will restart," says Erica Taylor, Public Affairs manager for Invista's East Coast operations.

The company will negotiate with the union and the United Workers, Inc., and it says it'll treat the employees with respect and sensitivity through this process.

"We have a keen understanding of and appreciation for the fact that these are challenging times and difficult decisions, but these actions are being undertaken as part of the efforts to enhance the viability of the Waynesboro site," says Taylor.

After seeing a similar layoff last December, Wiseman says, while some of those laid off do find other work, the economy isn't helping.

"The job market's not real strong in this area. There's not a whole lot of opportunities out there," says Wiseman.

Wiseman says he thinks the layoffs are a result of both the textile industry and the economy. He says textiles are disappearing in the United States.

Wiseman thinks the union leaders will come to a good resolution to lessen the impact to employees and their families.