JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – BAE Systems announced Friday that the planned layoffs for its Jacksonville shipyards might happen in two rounds.
The company announced in January that as many as 300 people could be laid off on or about March 18.
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On Friday, the company said 30 employees will “depart the organization” by April 1.
Another 180 employees who received WARN notices in January and were not laid off Friday could be subject to begin laid off in May, the company said in a news release.
“We recognize that the workforce reduction will impact 30 talented men and women on our team,” the release said. “We greatly appreciate the hard work and dedication of the employees who are leaving our organization today.”
The workforce reduction is the result of further cuts in the demand for commercial shipbuilding and repair services in Northern Florida. The shipyard also is experiencing reduced demand for Navy repair work at the Mayport Naval Station because of the Navy’s changes to its ship maintenance plan and the reduced number of ships homeported there.
BAE conducted a workforce reduction of 100 jobs last fall. Currently the company employs a total of 700 people at its Heckscher Drive facility and at the Mayport Naval Station. The reduction will allow the shipyard to remain effective and efficient for its current workload projection, BAE said.
BAE Systems says it is a leading provider of ship repair, maintenance, modernization, conversion, and overhaul for the Navy, other government, commercial and private customers.
The company operates seven full-service shipyards in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia and Hawaii, and offers a highly skilled, experienced workforce, eight dry docks, and significant pier space, crane and ship support services.
BAE Systems also has commercial shipbuilding and module fabrication capabilities at its Mobile, Alabama, and Jacksonville, Florida, shipyards.