Judge takes up Pratt & Whitney lawsuit

Hartford (AP/WTNH) - A federal judge will begin hearing arguments in a lawsuit challenging jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney's plans to move 1,000 jobs out of Connecticut.

U.S. District Judge Janet Hall is set to take up the lawsuit filed by the International Association of Machinists on Monday.

"Oh it's definitely a slap in the face," said Tony Whelan, a Pratt and Whitney employee.

Mechanic Tony Whelan has two decades with the company; 12 years at the plant in Cheshire.

"I'm 56-years old. So, if I get laid off in this economy and the present crisis in the country where am I going to be able to get a job?" he asked.

Hall is expected to decide by next month whether the East Hartford-based subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. complied with its union contract that requires "every reasonable effort" to preserve the jobs it wants to move to Columbus, Ga., Singapore and Japan.

"The company had been considering closing Cheshire way back in 2008 and they should have come to us then," said Union Representative James Parent.

The company says it has made those efforts. Pratt says it will shut its engine overhaul and repair plant in Cheshire by early 2011 and shift repair operations from its East Hartford facility beginning in next year's second quarter.