This post is part of The Upd8, the Midweek Wire’s new blog devoted entirely to coverage of Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district.
11/18/13: UPDATE
Lockheed Martin announced this week that it will close several of its U.S. facilities, including one in Newtown, which currently employs more than 1,000 local residents.
According to a press release, the global security company will eliminate 4,000 jobs as part of an effort to increase the efficiency of its operations and improve the affordability of its products. Since 2008, Lockheed Martin has reduced its workforce from 146,000 employees to 116,000.
This decision comes after a decline in U.S. government defense spending, and a company spokeswoman said that the decision was unrelated to sequestration.
The Newtown facility mainly focuses on the design and development of military, civil and commercial satellites.
An email to all Lockheed Martin employees from CEO and President Marillyn Hewson stated that some employees will be offered the opportunity to relocate, however, a fact sheet from the company states that 800 of the 1,050 employees at the Newtown facility will be “impacted.”
The facility is expected to close by early 2015, and most of the work completed there will be relocated to Denver, Colo., however all current contracts will be honored.
State Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) said that the facility’s closure will have a “ripple effect through our neighborhoods,” and called on other government officials to try to strike a deal with Lockheed Martin to keep the facility open.
“…I am calling on my colleagues on the local, state and federal level to begin working together immediately to explore any possibilities of reversing this decision and if that isn’t successful, to support a transition for the families impacted while also securing replacement industry to sustain our local economy,” Santarsiero, whose district includes Newtown, said.
When asked if there was any chance the Newtown facility could remain open, a company spokeswoman said that Lockheed Martin is unable to speculate on what will happen in the future.
PA-8 ON THE RECORD
Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) also weighed in on the closing announcement, calling it “incredibly disappointing.”
“I feel deeply for the hundreds of families whose outlook has become uncertain and I intend to do whatever I can to help these families chart their future,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement. “They work hard and they work smart; they are a tremendous asset to any employer and they can count on me to be a relentless promoter of their skills and for our region.”
Fitzpatrick’s two Democratic challengers, Shaughnessy Naughton and Kevin Strouse, also reacted to the facility closing.
Naughton criticized the congressman for his support of cuts to science and technology spending.
“While Congressman Fitzpatrick claims to ‘feel deeply’ for the families who just had their lives turned upside down, I can’t help but wonder if he could have done more to protect their jobs if he wasn’t so busy shutting down the government?” asked Naughton, a publisher and former breast cancer researcher. “Maybe a little more working for the people and a little less politics as usual in Washington would have made the difference.”
She added that, if elected, she will fight for more scientific research funding.
Strouse, a former CIA operative and Army Ranger, offered his sympathy for the workers who lost their jobs.
“I was disappointed to hear the news that many in our community would lose their jobs,” he said. “I extend my deepest sympathy to these families during what will be a difficult transition. However, I know that these are talented, highly skilled individuals that any company would be lucky to have, and I am hopeful that they will find new opportunities.”
