Lockheed Martin To Close Eagan Plant, 400 Jobs Cut
EAGAN (WCCO/AP) -- Lockheed Martin Corp. announced on Thursday that it will close its plant in Eagan, which effects about 1,000 jobs in Minnesota, the company said in a news release.
Lockheed will close the plant in Eagan that makes parts for the P-3 surveillance plane by 2013.
The company said layoffs will be partially offset by the transfer of 650 jobs to several other sites across the country.
Some of the manufacturing work will move to another site in Middle River, Md.
Overall, the announcement means that about 400 jobs are eliminated.
The company said it is all an effort plan to cut costs and increase affordability.
"While these changes will result in layoffs in some locations, they will strengthen employment in others and provide efficiencies that make us more competitive. We estimate these actions are expected to save approximately $150 million over the next 10 years," said Orlando P. Carvalho, the president of the company's Mission Systems and Sensors (MS2) business.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty wrote to Lockheed Martin CEO Robert Stevens on Thursday expressing disappointment that the Eagan plant is slated for closure by 2013. The move will eliminate or move about 1,000 jobs.
Pawlenty is asking Stevens for a conversation about keeping the plant open. He says he also plans to encourage the next governor to consider recommending that lawmakers pass incentives to save the facility.
The company employs about 133,000 people worldwide.
