GE Hitachi Nuclear confirms Wilmington layoffs

CASTLE HAYNE, NC (Star News) — GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy has confirmed workers have been laid off at its Wilmington facility.

Established in 2007, GE Hitachi produces nuclear reactors and other technologies at a plant in the Castle Hayne area. The Star News reports company spokesman Jon Allen said Wednesday that he could not confirm how many people were let go.

“Based on the current challenges in the nuclear power industry, we continue to transform our business to provide increased focus on our customers to meet their current needs,” read a statement provided by Allen. “As a result, we are announcing restructuring activities that will impact a small portion of our employees in the U.S. and Japan. These are tough, but necessary decisions to help position the company for long-term competitiveness. We will provide a comprehensive severance package to impacted employees including outplacement and transition support to new employment.”

The news comes a month after GE Chairman and CEO John Flannery announced the company would sell $20 billion of “non-core or smaller businesses” at an investors meeting in New York. The Associated Press this month reported that the company would shed 12,000 jobs in its energy division — about 18 percent of jobs at GE Power — due to falling demands.

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