LATA Kentucky Notifies 79 Workers of Layoffs

Layoff notices have been given to 79 employees of LATA of Kentucky, through the USW Local 550.

Meetings were held Monday afternoon to notify the workers, after the Department of Energy (DOE) approved the workforce reduction. The notice is required a month in advance of the layoff.

A LATA official and a union employee both confirmed the notices, and an online press release said, "Although we remain hopeful, we do not have sufficient funding to avoid this notification and must prepare to take the necessary reductions."

The 79 workers are involved in the remediation process at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and will be laid off in the following categories:

32 Operators    
9 Radiological Control Technicians   
6 Heavy Equipment Operators  
18 Maintenance Mechanics  
14 Electrical Mechanics  

LATA Kentucky and USW Local 550 will meet December 2-6 to discuss bumping priviledges for employees who are eligible.

The layoff takes effect December 26.

The union employee said he knew some non-union employees of LATA Kentucky were also being laid off, but a number could not be confirmed.