Joint Statement on Pratt & Whitney Closures 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman, Governor M. Jodi Rell, and Connecticut’s congressional delegation joined together today to express disappointment at the news that Pratt & Whitney will be closing plants in Cheshire and East Hartford, a move that will lead to the loss of 1,000 jobs.

“This is a shameful act on the part of a company that owes our state and its dedicated workforce more.  For weeks, I have been working with the machinists union, state leaders, our entire delegation, and UTC to find a resolution that would save these jobs.  But it is now clear that UTC is not interested in what’s best for the people of Connecticut,” said Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT).

“I seriously hope that UTC will reconsider this decision. Connecticut’s workers are among the best in the world and have consistently demonstrated their ability to work on cutting-edge aircraft and technology.  The closure of these plants, and the loss of these talented workers, will forfeit years of valuable experience,” Dodd continued. “I will not give up the fight on behalf of Connecticut’s highly skilled workers. I will continue to work with the rest of the delegation to protect the thousands of Connecticut jobs that ensure our state’s aerospace industry continues to be a national leader.”

“Despite generous offers of assistance from the State of Connecticut, and considerable wage concessions by the Machinist Union, Pratt & Whitney is pressing forward with its decision to close the Cheshire Facility and Connecticut and Connecticut Airfoil and Repair Operations center in East Hartford.  I am very disappointed with this outcome, and firmly believe it is not in the best interest of our State.  I continue to urge the Company to act in the best interest of the hard working citizens of Connecticut and reverse this decision.  I am convinced that, working together, we can arrive at a solution that will keep the company profitable and keep workers employed,” said Senator Lieberman (ID-CT).

“I am bitterly disappointed by the decision made today by UTC and I am devastated for the workers and their families. This was a bottom-line business decision that I believe put profits over people – coldly and regrettably. We made a generous and creative offer to keep these jobs in Connecticut and we will be willing to reconsider our offer if the company is willing to reconsider its decision. UTC is an important economic partner in our state’s economy and we certainly want its strong presence and skilled jobs continued here at UTC headquarters, Sikorsky, Carrier, Otis, Hamilton Sundstrand and Pratt,” said Governor M. Jodi Rell (R-CT).

“I am deeply disappointed by today’s announcement. It’s a major blow to our state’s manufacturing industry, Connecticut’s economy, and most importantly, to the hard working men and women of Pratt & Whitney. I still believed that a compromise that would have saved these jobs in Connecticut could have been achieved between Pratt & Whitney, the Machinists Union and the state of Connecticut,” said Congressman John Larson (D-CT-1).

“During my tenure in Congress, I have worked with the Connecticut delegation to preserve manufacturing jobs in Connecticut by securing critical federal funding to continue the production of Pratt & Whitney’s engines, and by protecting important military programs like the F-35 and C-17. This delegation in Washington, time and time again, has worked and voted in favor of the best interests of the machinists and employees of Pratt & Whitney. It is disappointing that at the end of the day, interests of shareholders, and not the years of hard work and sacrifice by these employees, motivated the company’s final decision,” Larson continued. “I will continue to fight for the Connecticut worker and to protect Connecticut jobs. Through the bold action of our President and this Congress, our nation has begun to climb out of the cavernous economic hole that we faced a little more than a year ago. I will continue to make the economy my number one priority.”

“I am extremely angered by Pratt & Whitney’s premature decision to close these important facilities as the delegation, the State of Connecticut and the union worked to find a formula to keep these jobs here at home.  I and other members of the delegation have always fought in Congress to secure funding for programs that keep critical high-skilled manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, while it seems Pratt has no problem moving these jobs elsewhere, including overseas.  I believe their decision was rash and short-sighted,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3).

“Pratt has short-term profit blinders on that are causing them to rush toward a decision at the expense of the long-term health of the company.  This is a bad decision, made indefensible given the fact that the Governor, the Congressional delegation, and the union pulled out every stop to keep these jobs in the hands of a workforce that is second to none in skill and dedication.  I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that the people whose livelihoods are affected by this decision have what they need to find new employment and job training for their transition in this tough economy,” said Congressman Chris Murphy (D-CT-5).

“Unfortunately, after all of the efforts made by state lawmakers, federal officials, and concessions by the International Association of Machinists to save the commercial business, Pratt and Whitney refused to meet even half-way.  As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to do all that I can to support Pratt and Whitney’s defense jobs, but today’s announcement by the company on the commercial side certainly is a bitter pill to swallow,” said Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT-2).

“My condolences go out to the workers who will lose their jobs with the Pratt-Whitney closings announced today, but we will do everything we can to create new opportunities and smooth their transition into new work,” said Congressman Himes. “With job losses hitting home and the state unemployment rate continuing to rise, we must redouble our efforts to keep and create jobs in Connecticut,” said Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT-4).

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