UPDATED: Goodrich eliminates about 60 jobs in Jamestown

Goodrich Corp. on Monday announced a work-force reduction that will affect approximately 60 area employees, said Laura Neel, marketing communications specialist with Goodrich Interiors.

“This is a business decision that had to be made,” Neel said. “We size employment needs in relation to business needs.”

Various positions at all levels were affected by this measure including salaried and hourly employees, she said. Those affected will receive a severance package that includes benefits and outplacement assis-tance.

The positions were eliminated as Goodrich found certain redundancies in the Jamestown facility, Neel said.

Goodrich laid off 35 Jamestown employees at the end of January 2009. Last October there was a voluntary reduction in its Jamestown work force where 22 left, she said.

No employees were rehired after last year’s layoff, Neel said.

Goodrich Corp. employs more than 460 people in the Jamestown area after the reduction.

Neel would not speculate on any future work force reductions.

“We won’t speculate on future employment actions,” she said.

Jack Clay, vice president of Goodrich Interiors’ Cargo Systems, said the economic slump in the commer-cial airline industry has affected its bottom line for the last year and a half.

“At this point we have no alternative but to adjust our workforce to the current market situation,” Clay said a press release.

Goodrich’s cargo systems team has designed and manufactured more cargo systems for freight and pas-senger airplanes than any other company in the world.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

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