Honeywell to lay off more than 200 people

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Web Editor - Michael Vick

Story Created: Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:36 PM

Story Updated: Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:37 PM

METROPOLIS, Ill. — Honeywell announced Thursday it will lay off more than 200 people while it evaluates a series of upgrades to prepare for extreme natural disasters like earthquakes and tornadoes.

The company will let go 228 employees, including 125 hourly and 103 salaried personnel. Honeywell will keep a workforce of about 106 employees.

The plant normally employs 334 employees when in full production.

The company said affected employees will be paid through Sept. 21 and will receive benefits through Sept. 30.

Honeywell said some affected employees may have an opportunity to apply for openings at other Honeywell locations.

The company will decide which employees will be affected by this reduction over the next few weeks.

The shutdown decision was made in response to a recent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspection of the facility, which the commission reviewed with Honeywell last week.

The NRC is conducting a similar assessment of all U.S. nuclear-related facilities in the wake of last year’s Fukushima disaster in Japan.