Hawker Beechcraft Laying off 170 Workers in Little Rock
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: August 2, 2012
Aerospace manufacturing company Hawker Beechcraft is laying off 170 workers in Little Rock.
In a letter sent to employees today, the company referred to its continued effort to "evaluate and balance production rates throughout a difficult and rapidly changing environment."
The letter stated that the company had recently made cuts in Wichita, Kansas as well.
The Little Rock layoffs will affect multiple levels and functions, hourly and non-hourly, throughout the company's facilities.
Affected employees are receiving a 60-day Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN).
Hawker Beechcraft's letter to workers stated further that "This continues to be an unprecedented time for our company and our employees. We encourage you to uphold a pattern of respect and care for our impacted colleagues during this time."
We're told this isn't indicative of either Little Rock or Hawker Beechcraft specifically, but of the global and national economy and aviation market.
Until now resizing of Hawker Beechcraft had not affected facilities outside their Wichita location, as they negotiated a sale to a Chinese company.
With this wave of resizing, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce said while this will impact the local business, there's good news to be had for other aviation industries in central Arkansas.
"Not only to have Hawker Beechcraft get back on its feet but give other aviation related industries the opportunity to keep this talent in Little Rock and Central Arkansas," said Chamber President and CEO, Jay Chesshir in response to their role in this move.
He's not the only one staying positive. Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said "Arkansas's private aircraft industry and other high-end industries suffered throughout the course of the recession. The good news is they're not shutting down - they're keeping some employees - but any time you lose jobs, it's heartbreaking."
In a letter sent to employees today, the company referred to its continued effort to "evaluate and balance production rates throughout a difficult and rapidly changing environment."
The letter stated that the company had recently made cuts in Wichita, Kansas as well.
The Little Rock layoffs will affect multiple levels and functions, hourly and non-hourly, throughout the company's facilities.
Affected employees are receiving a 60-day Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN).
Hawker Beechcraft's letter to workers stated further that "This continues to be an unprecedented time for our company and our employees. We encourage you to uphold a pattern of respect and care for our impacted colleagues during this time."
We're told this isn't indicative of either Little Rock or Hawker Beechcraft specifically, but of the global and national economy and aviation market.
Until now resizing of Hawker Beechcraft had not affected facilities outside their Wichita location, as they negotiated a sale to a Chinese company.
With this wave of resizing, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce said while this will impact the local business, there's good news to be had for other aviation industries in central Arkansas.
"Not only to have Hawker Beechcraft get back on its feet but give other aviation related industries the opportunity to keep this talent in Little Rock and Central Arkansas," said Chamber President and CEO, Jay Chesshir in response to their role in this move.
He's not the only one staying positive. Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said "Arkansas's private aircraft industry and other high-end industries suffered throughout the course of the recession. The good news is they're not shutting down - they're keeping some employees - but any time you lose jobs, it's heartbreaking."
