The cuts come as a result of the contraction of the oil industry.
Sikorsky has announced it will close its Bridgeport plant, and consolidate all of its Connecticut operations in Stratford. One hundred eighty people will lose their jobs in the state, as the helicopter maker lays off 1,400 people worldwide -- just less than ten percent of its workforce.
Sikorsky said all of the 450 Bridgeport employees will be offered a transfer to Stratford.
The cuts come as a result of the contraction of the oil industry; Sikorsky did good business with oil companies buying helicopters to shuttle workers to offshore platforms, but that source of revenue has fallen off with the fall in oil prices.
Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said he understood the company’s decision, and said he’d look to use the Sikorsky facility to attract new companies to the city.
Catherine Smith, Commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, issued a statement on the layoffs. In it, she said, "the company has....advised us that it has begun discussions with its unions regarding the separations and will comply with all of its obligations, as applicable, and will work closely with the impacted employees to ease the transition. Under the terms of the historic agreement between the state and UTC, the company is incentivized to keep as many jobs as possible and make new strategic investments that will greatly benefit the Connecticut economy."
Meanwhile, bids to buy the helicopter maker were due this week to its parent company, Hartford’s United Technologies. UTC announced earlier this year it would sell or spin off the business. Sikorsky said the announcement of cuts is not connected to the proposed sale.
