Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah’s largest employer of private jet manufacturers, has announced that it will cut 1,500 jobs due to unfavorable economic conditions.
Savannah is bracing itself for one of the largest job cuts that town has ever experienced. “It's going to hurt all the local businesses in town,” concludes one local restaurant owner. “We’re open from 6 a.m. to 10 at night, and I would say we get their employees for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
With around 6,000 employees in the Georgia coast, Gulfstream Aerospace is Savannah’s largest private employer. The Gulfstream private jet manufacturing plant offers the best-paying jobs in the area—one long-range G650 made from Savannah costs $60 million in the market.
“It’s a very painful experience,” described Gulfstream spokesman Robert Baugniet. “We've got three generations of the same families working here, and we're telling them, “Through no fault of your own, you’ve got to go.’”
Last Friday, Baugniet announced an additional 600 full-time workers were to be laid off in addition to 600 contractors who have already lost their jobs. Baugniet mentioned that he does not know how many more layoffs would affect Savannah.
The layoffs are being blamed on a shrinking backlog. Baugniet said that private jet orders are being pushed to 2012 to give the economy a chance to recover. Plus, public opinion and Washington has not helped the industry, addressing the jets as symbols of greed.
“This is big and unfortunate and affects a lot of families,” commented Bill Hubbard, president of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce. “That’s a lot of people, so it’ll be a big deal.”
E-mail your press releases, news tips and feedback to the CharterX News Editor at News@CharterX.com.
0 Responses to “Gulfstream Aerospace to Cut 1,500 Jobs”
Leave a Reply