Raytheon paring down depot work force

This story was published Thu, Feb 24, 2000

By Terry Hudson
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON - With construction more than 75 percent complete at the chemical weapons incinerator, Raytheon is starting to scale down its work force this week.

Employment currently is at a peak of nearly 1,250 construction workers. By the end of summer, the work force is expected to be reduced by about 800 workers. All the construction jobs will be gone by November, when work is scheduled to be completed.

Raytheon, the company hired to build and operate the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, plans several rounds of layoffs through the end of construction.

"Reductions are expected at this point in the course of a construction project's life," said Raytheon Project Manager Jay Bluestein.

Raytheon spokesman Chris Early couldn't give an estimate on how many jobs would be reduced this week.

"It's difficult to cut it off at one point," Early said. "We will be reducing until the end of the project. We're ramping down for the end of construction."

Early said the first positions to be cut would include many cement masons, iron workers, steam-fitters and some electricians.

"We need a lot less of those," Early said. "We're not pouring lots of concrete anymore or setting forms. Most of that is in place now. What's left is filling the buildings."

Early said the remaining work will include a lot of equipment installation and millwright work.

The construction project is comprised of a dozen buildings totaling more than 200,000 square feet. Construction began in June 1997.

About 12 percent of the nation's supply of chemical warfare agents are stored in special bunkers at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

The munitions include M55 rockets, mines, bombs and containers of chemical agents.

The Army awarded the Raytheon Demilitarization Co. a $567 million contract in February 1997 to build, test, operate and close the incinerator.

The 40 months of disposal operations are scheduled to begin in October 2001 and conclude in March 2005.

 

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