Wed, Apr 28, 2004

Lockheed To Lay Off 500

F-16 Production Slowdown

The biggest aerospace defense contractor in America will reportedly have to lay off some 500 workers from its plant in Fort Worth (TX) by the end of the year. The reason: production of the venerable F-16 line is slowing down.

Ironically, many of the cuts will actually occur on the company's F-22 line because of seniority and security factors. More seasoned workers from the F-16 line will be transferred to the Raptor assembly process, according to union leaders. It will be a transition that will require some of them to go back to school, said Machinists Local President Pat Lane.

"There will be some training that has to be done, at least a week's worth of training on composites versus metals, then some on-the-job training," he said.

Lockheed has told unemployment officials in Texas that the first 245 workers will be laid off by June 7th. Retraining will begin next month, according to Lane, who expects no delays in production.

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Lockheed To Lay Off 500

F-16 Production Slowdown

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com

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