Pratt Goes Through With Layoffs At Plant

August 27, 2010 by Josh Morgan

Manufacturing giant Pratt & Whitney has informed the Machinist Union that it plans to eliminate 129 positions from its Cheshire engine repair facility next month, a move that the Union said it will fight.
Pratt said it would cut 129 hourly employees from the Cheshire plant because of the slowdown in work.
"The reductions are the direct result of a decline in the volume of work performed at the Cheshire Engine Center," the statement reads. "The reduction is in full compliance with the current collective bargaining agreement and the court's ruling."
Per its contract with the Union, Pratt will first look for voluntary resignations with the incentive of a benefits package, an offer that expires today. Additionally, Pratt will look to see if any of the Cheshire workers can be transfered to other plants before eliminating jobs.
However, officials at the International Association of Machinists District 26 disputed the claims about a decline in work volume.
In fact, the Union contests that hourly workers have been putting in 10-hour days, instead of the normal eight-hour shifts, because of the amount of work. Also, some employees have been asked to work Saturday and Sunday shifts as well.
"None of this would indicate that there is not enough work to keep people employed," Union officials said.
The news of layoffs comes a month after 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld a previous court ruling that barred the company from closing down the Cheshire plant before the union contract expires later this year. Pratt had announced its plan to close the Cheshire plant and a smaller facility in East Hartford last year and move the jobs out of state and overseas.
In February, a judge sided with the Union after it sued for breach of contract. Pratt appealed that decision and again lost its fight to close the two facilities. Now, Pratt says the planned layoffs are compliant with the court's ruling because of the stated decrease in work, however, the Union said it would investigate to see if the decision to let 129 workers go violates the ruling.
"These layoffs coincide with Pratt’s original game plan for emptying the plant prior to contract negotiations, a plan that was ruled illegal by the District Court and barred by an injunction," Union officials said. "IAM leaders will be conferring with their attorneys as to whether these proposed layoffs represent actions by Pratt in contempt of the court’s decision."
The Union also questioned why furlough days, which have been used at Middletown and East Hartford plants has not utilized. According to the Union, furlough days have proven effective at other plants to address a downturn without permanent layoffs.
Jim Parent, Assistant Directing Business Representative and chief Union negotiator, said permanent layoffs can be avoided and did not believe the lack of work claim that Pratt put forward as a reason for the layoffs.
"If the company acts reasonably, we can avoid any permanent layoffs at this time," Parent said. "Cheshire workers continue to work hard and deliver record profits. This is no way to reward their remarkable efforts under difficult circumstances."
Everett Corey, Directing Business Representative of IAM District 26, said the union would fight the layoffs, even if it meant going back to court.
"We are prepared to defend our rights, and our members’ jobs, by whatever means are possible. If that means going back to court, we’ll be there,” he said. "We know that it will definitely mean being ready to fight in the contract negotiations coming up."