Pratt to Lay Off 200 Salaried Employees in Connecticut

Jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney announced 300 layoffs nationwide Thursday, 200 of which will affect plants in Middletown and East Hartford, according to media relations manager Bryan Kidder.

The cuts represent about 2 percent of Pratt's Connecticut workforce of 11,000.

Specific numbers by facility are not available, Kidder said, and the reductions are across all activities.

"Pratt & Whitney continuously assesses staffing levels to ensure they are in line with current business and economic conditions," he said in a statement. "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," the statement continued."Taking actions to manage our cost structure today, while continuing to invest in new programs, positions Pratt & Whitney for the long term and ensures a strong future for the company, our employees, customers and shareowners."

Pratt & Whitney designs, manufactures and services aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines.

Upon hearing the news, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy released the following statement:

“When these announcements are viewed in the context of our overall economy, it’s still clear we are moving in the right direction. The unemployment rate is down 20 percent from last January, and it’s a full half-point below the national average.  In the case of Pratt & Whitney, it’s my hope that the announcement today of their continued involvement in the assembly of engines for Airbus will in the long run make up for the jobs lost today (see Hartford Courant story for more on this).

"The multi-million dollar investment they’re making in their facility in Middletown will set the foundation for growth that will mean well-paying jobs for our residents.  All of that said, it’s still discouraging to hear about job losses – and it’s why our top priority every day is job creation.”