| Updated: 2/06/2009 7:22 pm |
Published: 2/06/2009 2:16 pm |
Airplane maker Hawker Beechcraft announces it is laying off 2300 employees nationwide. With a major facility at the Little Rock Airport, dozens of Arkansans lost their jobs Friday. The Wichita based company blames the firings on declining orders and a bad economy.
"It could be it, you never know. You never know if they are going to do it now or when we get back. Or they may let us work all day and then get rid of us, we don't know." Rick Langley and his friends are on their way to lunch after a rough morning of watching their co-workers get fired.
"All we know is we are seeing them go to the door carrying all of their belongings. It is hard to see, it is. Times are fixing to get hard," said Langley.
"We lost a good supervisor this morning. They took him out so it's a bad deal," said Jeff Hunter.
The Hawker Beechcraft Public Relations Director would not tell us how many Little Rock employees are losing their jobs but workers tell me they're hearing 135-140.
Hawker Beechcraft tells FOX16 a down economy has led to declining orders and deliveries. The company is one of the nation's leading business jet manufacturers. When the jets get to Little Rock workers customize them to customer’s specifications. Rick and his friends are worried they could get fired next.
"Oh yeah, at any time we could go back and they could send me home. You don't know, don't know until they are escorting you to your car," said Rick Langley.
"I've got a baby on the way; it’s due in April. If I loose my job I’ll lose insurance. I can't afford to pay for it. It's rough," said Jeff Hunter.
"Oh yes, I've got kids. I need this job,” said Rick.
This isn't the first time this has happened. Last year, 500 employees lost their jobs nationwide.
