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GE Transportation Systems-Global Signaling recently announced plans to eliminate 100 jobs at its Grain Valley and Warrensburg, Mo., plants by June, and reduce its worldwide staff 11 percent as soon as possible.


Jobs would be cut through a combination of layoffs, early-retirement offerings and elimination of unfilled positions.


"We're transitioning about 75 percent of our Grain Valley facility's printed-wire assemblies production to outside suppliers — the remaining workers will focus on specialized manufacturing and quick customer turnaround for more than 1,500 part numbers," says GETS-Global Signaling Communications Leader Jeff Caywood.


The supplier also plans to eliminate circuit-board manufacturing at its Warrensburg facility, which will continue to final assemble, test and ship circuit boards.


"The recent decline in the telecommunications industry has led to excess circuit-board capacity," says Caywood. "With more than 100 global competitors, we can no longer remain competitive in the printed wire-assemblies and circuit-board manufacturing industries."


The supplier plans to provide affected employees severance pay based on years of service. Laid-off workers would be offered company-financed job-transition services.


In 2000, GETS acquired Harmon Industries Inc., which became GETS' Global Signaling division. After completing the job cuts, GETS-Global Signaling will employ about 1,300 worldwide.


— Jeff Stagl