Raytheon layoffs slated in November

? The first of the layoffs at Raytheon Aircraft Co. caused by the shifting of wire harness work from Wichita to Mexico should occur next month.

Raytheon Aircraft has given layoff notices to 75 people who work in its wire harness operations in Wichita. Their last day will be Nov. 19, Raytheon said.

In all, about 300 jobs will be eliminated in the division. The company announced its intentions to move the work last November.

Not everyone will lose their jobs, however.

Ten of the 75 receiving layoff notices have moved to jobs as avionics installers, Raytheon Aircraft spokesman Tim Travis said, and the company would like to fill as many open jobs with the laid-off workers as practical.

Layoff notices will be given to the remaining employees next year. Notices will be issued through the middle of 2005, Travis said.

Moving the work will mean significant savings to the company, which has been working to improve its financial performance, officials have said.

Raytheon Aircraft officials have told employees that the company must cut its overhead and that it wanted to keep final assembly inside the plant but move other manufacturing to other companies.

The planemaker also notified the Machinists union that it is moving the manufacturing of crates used for shipping parts and landing gear manufacturing to other companies, said Steve Rooney, the Machinists union’s top Wichita official.

Raytheon Aircraft told the union and employees last November that it planned to move the wire harness work to Labinal Inc.’s Pryor, Okla., division.

Most of the work will be done at Aerotec de Mexico, Labinal’s subsidiary in Chihuahua, Mexico.