BAE Systems has laid off 170 workers at its Norfolk, Va. shipyard, fewer than were expected under a layoff plan announced earlier this month the Virginian-Pilot reported.
The shipyard had announced in March that it planned to let go as many as 265 workers, but the cuts announced Wednesday affected 160 union and 10 salaried employees after the company was able to transfer some employees to other locations.
“We have been able to successfully place Norfolk employees on temporary assignments at other BAE Systems shipyards, all on the West Coast,” Karl Johnson, a BAE spokesman, told the Virginian-Pilot.
While the number laid off on Wednesday was lower than projected, BAE Systems did extend layoff notices for another 200 employees, warning them that they could be let go on or about April 30.
The layoffs in Virginia follow the same pattern that has been seen at other BAE Systems shipyards on the East Coast. The company had warned in January that it would let go up to 300 employees at its Jacksonville, Fla. location, but released only 30 on March 18 with another 180 having their layoff notices extended.
One of BAE Systems’ facilities in Jacksonville deals primarily with commercial work, including platform supply vessels, while the other is devoted strictly to naval vessels. The yard in Norfolk works only on Navy ships.
BAE Systems’ yards also saw a round of layoffs in late 2015.
