Economy grounds Sikorsky for 3 days

Despite a 41 percent jump in first quarter profits, Sikorsky Aircraft is not immune to the difficult economy and its more than 9,000 workers in the state will be placed on furlough for three days this year.

[Joe]

The fact that Sikorsky is feeling the pinch is a real eye opener. This is a rock solid company that makes a terrific product. Lets hope this new administration understands that company's like this are what separate America from the rest of the world. This should alert the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard to use American copters.

[CT democrat]

beginning of the end...wait till the president starts chopping the defence budget...sikorsky will be forced to move to alabama...connecticut taxes are way too high...thanks to the democrats ...sorry to say

[Opinionated]

Why don't they just cut the CEO's pay and bonus?

[Sol]

…more than 9,000 workers in the state will be placed on furlough for three days this year…

Both white-collar and blue-collar?

[An Idle Observer]

Sol wrote:

<quoted text>
Both white-collar and blue-collar?

Everyone, unless union contract or military contract terms state otherwise. Hamilton Sundstrand and Pratt & Whitney have five furlough days, Pratt Canada has 10. BTW, no unemployment compensation is available, nor can you use vacation days, sick time or personal time to cover the loss. It's still better than a pink slip, no job and nobama hope.

[copter]

Does anybody work there at all or just a bunch of time stealers!

[IKNOW]

I hear about employees doing nothing all the time there, from the employees themselves, even for overtime pay. Its a game to see who can do the least, who can wander the buildings the most to look busy, or who can find the best place to sleep. Maybe its time for the government to do a little research on the amount of people they have working there, and what they actually do. If employees actually worked, you could probably cut labor force in half for efficiency.

[harvey]

i have friends there whose job it is sweep,that's it just sweep and clean the bathrooms cafe area,they make $24.00 an hour..only a matter of time before layoffs

[Tom]

Ditto

IKNOW wrote:

I hear about employees doing nothing all the time there, from the employees themselves, even for overtime pay. Its a game to see who can do the least, who can wander the buildings the most to look busy, or who can find the best place to sleep. Maybe its time for the government to do a little research on the amount of people they have working there, and what they actually do. If employees actually worked, you could probably cut labor force in half for efficiency.

[Bill Phoenix]

IKNOW wrote:

I hear about employees doing nothing all the time there, from the employees themselves, even for overtime pay. Its a game to see who can do the least, who can wander the buildings the most to look busy, or who can find the best place to sleep. Maybe its time for the government to do a little research on the amount of people they have working there, and what they actually do. If employees actually worked, you could probably cut labor force in half for efficiency.

Remember AVCO same attitudes, UNION protected them from any punishment. I was UNION and non UNION for five years. LOOK BUSY WAS THE NORM, very exasperrating.LOOK WHAT THAT PRODUCED.

[Whats right is right]

I would be happy to take 3 days off without pay if it would sav my job, atleast for a little while ...I didn't have that because my job was eliminated..

[Lets be real]

Not a good sign when the largest employer in the area that was the only UTC division to show profit, furloughs workers to protect itself. Read between the lines: UTC and Sikorsky see even more bad times in the future and they are making a rainy day fund. Here is a company with thousands of government contracts from the U.S. and other foreign countries. Here is a company that not only manufactures, but also repairs and services each item they make.

When a company like Sikorsky has to take drastic steps to protect itself and it's employees for the future, its not a good sign that they have faith in the promised recovery, but instead see a bigger crash in the market.

As I have said in the past, and I will continue to say it, the market is a false market value boosted by number crunchers who are only interested in pocketing a profit. These number crunchers are paid by the members of the market to make it look better than it really is.

Proof: A massive number of lay-offs, furlough days, plant "idling", pay cuts of up to 30% in the private industry, wage freezes and give backs by both minicipal and private unions and lets not forget the huge number of foreclosures. Need more, the list goes on?

While all this goes on, prices continue to rise on everyday items like gas, milk, food etc.

Heed the warning, stop spending, stop market investments and put your money (cash is king) under your mattress where it is accessible.

[Jim B]

Bill Phoenix wrote:

<quoted text> Remember AVCO same attitudes, UNION protected them from any punishment. I was UNION and non UNION for five years. LOOK BUSY WAS THE NORM, very exasperrating.LOOK WHAT THAT PRODUCED.

You need to be reminded that greed on the behalf of the corporation did in Avco. You also need to remember that the elected officials in this state gave us up to save a sub base. Try reading a newspaper instead once in a while. Remember the Brac commission that closed army bases such as Avco while Rosa Delauro`s husband sat as a presidential advisor?

[Tax and Spend]

HOPE ?

[JustMe]

Sol wrote:

<quoted text>
Both white-collar and blue-collar?

Would have to be blue-collar...white-collar are paid salaries, makes no difference if they work 40 hours or 60 hours a week, same pay.

[bill phoenix]

Jim B wrote:

<quoted text>
You need to be reminded that greed on the behalf of the corporation did in Avco. You also need to remember that the elected officials in this state gave us up to save a sub base. Try reading a newspaper instead once in a while. Remember the Brac commission that closed army bases such as Avco while Rosa Delauro`s husband sat as a presidential advisor?

What you pointed out has a lot of truth to it , but i was there saw the shoddy workmanship the i don't give a damn attitudes.I did read the newspapers,i worked in union and non union, were you there? The engines never could make the hrs. and service times (and very few the h.p.)Try not getting to testy if you wern't there and didn't see it first hand. Thats why they went to the GE T-58, AVCOS(53S, 55S) JUST DIDT WARRANT THE COST(CHECK SERVICE @ OVERHAUL COSTS). BOTH SIDES SCREWED THAT POOCH.

[An Idle Observer]

JustMe wrote:

<quoted text>Would have to be blue-collar...white-collar are paid salaries, makes no difference if they work 40 hours or 60 hours a week, same pay.

Guess again. Salary gets docked a day's pay.

[WooHoo]

Corporate has to get that $5000 union contract signing bonus back some how

[bob]

Who cares Sikorsky thrives on war.Now that the economy is in a decline and Bushy boy and Dicky boy is gone.Sikorsky's government contracts will be cut.More layoffs for lazy overpaid workers and union crooks.

[Reality check]

Do you all remember the strike of 2006? It had a temporary negative impact on the local economy.
If Sikorsky should close, the economic effect would be felt all over CT.
Look at what's happened in Detroit.