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GE Transportation Systems Jan. 23 announced plans to cut about 1,100 jobs — including 900 at its Erie, Pa., plant — due to declining locomotive orders.
Orders fell from 911 in 1999 to 550 last year; the company expects orders to total about 350 in 2002, said GE Transportation Systems spokesman Jeff
DeMarrais in a prepared statement.
"Our production schedule for 2002 is down about 40 percent from last year," he said. "We need to adjust our work force and cost structure to the lower volume levels we expect."
The workforce reductions, which also would involve the company’s Melbourne, Fla., and several other plants, would be accomplished through early retirement offers and layoffs. However, the job cuts wouldn’t affect the company’s Grove City, Pa., engine plant.
GE Transportation Systems, which employs about 8,000 people worldwide, also is negotiating with unions to restructure the company, said DeMarrais.