Cutbacks will come by April 30

AIKEN - Layoffs of no more than 60 people at Savannah River Site will be effective by the end of the month, according to a memo from the operating company's president.

Since last year, Westinghouse Savannah River Co., which operates SRS for the Energy Department, has been making staffing adjustments.

The Energy Department has pushed for greater efficiency at its locations, and Westinghouse reorganized at the beginning of the year in response. The streamlining is reaching every aspect of operations.

"This reduction will be less than 60 persons, will take place in late April and is a continuation of our effort to establish the required skill mix to accomplish today's missions," Westinghouse President Bob Pedde wrote in the staffing update, his first in almost two months.

He said some people were reassigned as part of the review, but he did not give specifics. He emphasized to employees who are unaffected by the present layoffs that future work is not guaranteed.

"While the new organization is in place and initial staffing reviews are complete," Mr. Pedde wrote, "I want to remind everyone that we will need to continue to evaluate staffing needs as mission changes occur."

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He has said that the new layoffs would take place in an "ebb and flow" fashion, unlike the mass layoffs of the past.

About 50 employees were laid off in October, and at least 20 more were added by the end of the year. Before announcing layoffs, Westinghouse had offered eligible workers the option of severance packages or early retirement.

SRS, which produced nuclear weapons components during the Cold War buildup, is the area's largest employer.

Reach Eric Williamson at (803) 279-6895 or eric.williamson@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Wednesday, April 16, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle