Pratt & Whitney lays off 200 Connecticut workers

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Hundreds of Pratt & Whitney salaried workers are getting layoff notices, the company said Thursday.

300 jobs will be cut, with 200 of them coming in Connecticut. The cuts are at Pratt's East Hartford and Middletown facilities.

The cuts are effective immediately, company spokesman Bryan Kidder said in a statement.

Just weeks ago, Pratt and Whitney's East Hartford employees got a look at the company's new jet engine. President David Hess told reporters sales are expected to double to $24 billion by the end of the decade.

The company says the layoffs are necessary to carefully manage cost structure while investing in the future.

In 2010, the company needed 425 workers to retire early. Then, last year, the engine repair division closed in East Hartford as well as the entire Cheshire Plant.

Lisa Richey doesn't work at Pratt, but she's greeted many employees at the start and end of their work days for about 20 years. A lot of them come visit here at Maddie's for breakfast and lunch.

"That's our clientele, our liveliehood," she said. "When they get laid off, it's like us getting laid off."

The company spokesperson says the workers have been offered severance, continued medical benefits, and out placement services.

Pratt & Whitney posted sales of $3.05 billion in the first quarter, up 6 percent. Profit slid 9 percent, to $389 million.

Below is Bryan Kidder's full statem ent:

Pratt & Whitney continuously assesses staffing levels to ensure they are in line with current business and economic conditions. When necessary, we make staffing adjustments required to keep our cost structure competitive. As such, Pratt & Whitney is reducing its salaried workforce by approximately 300 positions company-wide, including approximately 200 positions in Connecticut, effective immediately.

These decisions are necessary to carefully manage our cost structure while continuing to invest in our future.

Taking actions to manage our cost structure today, while continuing to invest in new programs, position Pratt & Whitney for the long term and ensure a strong future for the company, our employees, customers and shareowners.