Are GEA Miss., Ala. jobs at risk?

Some 500,000 aerospace production jobs are at risk in the coronavirus slowdown, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the principal aerospace workers’ union, wrote in a March 23 letter to Congress. IAM asked for government help for their workers, some 13,000 of whom have received layoff notices. The IAM workforce is employed in both the defense industrial base and commercial aircraft industry, which is the lion’s share of aerospace work. Airlines have slashed operations in recent weeks, commercial aircraft orders are in a state of suspension, and parts manufacturers are having slowdowns and closures. In association with the virus and slowdowns, GE Aviation announced March 22 it would layoff about 10 percent of its workforce and furlough about 50 percent of employees involved in maintenance, repair, and overhaul for at least 90 days. GE is suspending raises, and has instituted a hiring freeze. CEO Lawrence Culp Jr. said in a media release that the sudden drop off in demand for parts, engines, and MRO work forced the action. (Source: AF Magazine 03/23/20) Central Mississippi Note: It’s unclear what impact the layoffs and furloughs will have on GE Aviation's plants in Mississippi and Alabama. GE Aviation has two aviation manufacturing facilities in Mississippi: Batesville and Ellisville. The Batesville facility produces two composite parts for GE's GEnx jet engine: Fan platforms and the fan case assembly. The GEnx engine, which will power the Boeing 787 and 747-8 aircrafts, is the world's only jet engine with composite fan blades, composite fan platforms, and a composite fan case. The Ellisville facility will manufacture and assemble new composite components unique to the aviation industry. GEA also has a jet engine components factory in Auburn, Ala. The advanced manufacturing plant will produce precision, super-alloy machined parts for GE jet engines that will power and future commercial and military aircraft, and the vast fleet of GE jet engines already in service. https://www.airforcemag.com/coronavirus-outbreak-puts-more-than-500000-aerospace-jobs-at-risk/