Monday, November 21, 2011

Sikorsky Aircraft plans more job cuts

Sikorsky Aircraft has told workers another 3 percent of its workforce would be cut in the next 12 months as the helicopter maker anticipates a drop in U.S. defense spending and further slowing of the global economy.

The company announced in September it was cutting 3 percent of its workforce and later told congressional representatives the total would be 567, with 419 in Connecticut. The majority of those cuts are to affect union workers in Stratford, who are still negotiating with management over which workers will be eligible for a separation package. In June, it announced a 386 staff reduction in its Military Completions Center in New York.

The latest round, would also appear to top more than 500, though the company did not say where the cuts would be falling the most, not provide a specific figure.

The company has nearly half its workforce of 18,000 in Connecticut.

"While the previous restructuring announced in September primarily involved the company's hourly workforce due to declining work volumes, the action announced internally last week affects the salaried workforce more so," said Sikorsky spokesman Paul Jackson. "Specifically, the reduction will affect about 3 percent of the company's total workforce."

The company is offering a voluntary severance package to workers 55 years and older with at least 10 years of service. Those interested in accepting the voluntary layoff have until Dec. 5 to submit a letter of intent, with the company setting Jan. 6 as the final day for agreements to be signed.

In a letter to employees Friday, Sikorsky President Jeffrey Pino said the cuts would play out over the next 12 months.

Including this latest round of job cuts, Sikorsky has made plans to reduce its global work force by more than 6 percent.

Though defense cuts are expected to made in the U.S. in the face of a tight federal budget, defense analysts say those cuts will likely be made to future spending, rather than immediate programs. And helicopters in general remain a favorite of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps programs.

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