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COPYRIGHT 2002 Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News
By Katie Fairbank, The Dallas Morning News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Jun. 30--FORT WORTH, Texas--Each week after the close of business, the job-cut notice is posted for workers at Bell Helicopter Textron
Inc., who anxiously scan it to ensure that they still have jobs.
"Fridays are depressing," said Gary Livingston, president of Local 218 of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America.
The layoffs and firings began dribbling down over the last year. All told, more than 12 percent of the helicopter manufacturer's local workforce were shown the door. Bell now employs 5,700 people, but the possibility of more cuts looms.
Battling back after a management shake-up and a massive restructuring, Bell Helicopter is now clinging to a lifeline sustained by two military programs that have been threatened with cancellation. Moreover, the civilian helicopter market remains weak because of the economic downturn.
Bell Helicopter is re-evaluating every aspect of its business. Bell is also studying whether it should keep all of its sites operating. Already the company has moved production to Hurst from one Fort Worth plant, which has been relegated to storage.
"Right now, we're still looking...
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