Edwards & Associates Announces Layoffs
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Edwards & Associates Announces Layoffs
Edwards & Associates Announces LayoffsTwo Tri-Cities businesses are blaming recent layoffs on the tight economy and a drop in demand for helicopter parts and services.
Edwards & Associates and its subsidiary, Aeronautical Accessories, laid off five and 45 employees, respectively, company spokeswoman Carolyn Ferrell said in a news release issued Monday.
“We are sad to have to let people go,” Edwards & Associates President Greg Williams said in the release. “Today, Americans are in unprecedented times and our companies are no exception.”
Edwards & Associates has repaired and outfitted helicopters out of its facilities in Bristol, Tenn., and Piney Flats, Tenn., since 1977.
Aeronautical Accessories, based in Piney Flats, makes parts for five helicopter manufacturers.
Both companies merged with Textron Inc. in 1999 and are now affiliated with Bell Helicopter.
In the release, Ferrell said affected employees will be given top priority for jobs at Bell Helicopter in Texas and Maryland. They also will receive severance packages and one month’s worth of health care benefits, Ferrell said.
Since Sept. 1, Edwards & Associates is the third Sullivan County business to announce plans to lay off more than 50 employees, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Citing recent cuts to TennCare’s home-based care services, Gentiva Health Services announced in September that it was laying off 88 workers at its Kingsport, Tenn., office.
On Feb. 2, King Pharmaceuticals announced it was laying off 72 employees at its Bristol, Tenn., facility. This layoff will take place from March 31 through April 13.
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Reader Reactions
Oak Ridge just received a cleanup stimulus grant for several hunderd jobs and there are other road, sewer, bridge, school,etc projects just like this planned across the state. Don’t tell those who’ve lost their job that we should reject these job opportunities. We shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater while making a political point.
Based on what I have read, the reason some leaders are balking the stimulus money is becaues in order to receive it they have to raise taxes on many of the businesses in the state. They are going to be required to increase unemployment insurance taxes and other taxes against the businesses. If that is done it will not allow the creation of jobs, it will stunt it. Just throwing money at the state will not create jobs, you can put the money out there but if you are going to take away just as much the businesses are in no better shape than they were to start with.
Tell our Rep. Hill that we do not need him grandstanding to support a bill to turn down the stimulus money for Tn. We need available jobs to replace these and others lost around the area.
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