Cape Canaveral, Fla. (UPI) Apr 16, 2011
Almost 2,000 workers at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., will be laid off after the last shuttle flight, a contractor says.
The cuts announced by United Space Alliance Friday are no surprise, Florida Today reports. They are likely to unfold in waves July 15, July 22 and Aug. 12.
"It will be difficult to say goodbye to such tremendously talented and dedicated teammates, and we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for them," said USA President Virginia Barnes.
Only two more shuttle launches are scheduled: Endeavour on April 29 and Atlantis June 28.
Last week the company cuts 535 jobs at Kennedy, bringing the total lost since October 2009 to about 2,100. About 3,300 USA employees remain there, along with 2,300 in Texas and Alabama.
Employees can volunteer for layoffs, and the remainder will be given 60 days' notice in mid-May.
USA said it expects to cut 1,850 to 1,950 positions at Kennedy, as much as 60 percent of its local workforce. It will lose about half of its national workforce.
USA is expected to have a role, still uncertain, in preparing the retired shuttles for public display and renovating facilities for new uses.
Almost 2,000 workers at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., will be laid off after the last shuttle flight, a contractor says.
The cuts announced by United Space Alliance Friday are no surprise, Florida Today reports. They are likely to unfold in waves July 15, July 22 and Aug. 12.
"It will be difficult to say goodbye to such tremendously talented and dedicated teammates, and we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for them," said USA President Virginia Barnes.
Only two more shuttle launches are scheduled: Endeavour on April 29 and Atlantis June 28.
Last week the company cuts 535 jobs at Kennedy, bringing the total lost since October 2009 to about 2,100. About 3,300 USA employees remain there, along with 2,300 in Texas and Alabama.
Employees can volunteer for layoffs, and the remainder will be given 60 days' notice in mid-May.
USA said it expects to cut 1,850 to 1,950 positions at Kennedy, as much as 60 percent of its local workforce. It will lose about half of its national workforce.
USA is expected to have a role, still uncertain, in preparing the retired shuttles for public display and renovating facilities for new uses.