44 General Electric Aviation Employees Laid Off in Germantown

 Forty-four employees of the General Electric Aviation Systems plant in Germantown lost their jobs this month after a downsizing.

“This reduction is due to the need to reduce costs and consolidate business resources across sites,” the company said in a statement.

General Electric employs close to 2,000 people in Maryland at eight facilities. In addition to the plant at 20501 Seneca Meadows Parkway in Germantown, the others are in Baltimore, Bethesda, Glen Burnie, Hanover, Hunt Valley, Laurel and Silver Spring.

Some of the jobs in Germantown were eliminated because of what the company called “business process improvements.” Others were moved to the company’s other plants at Grand Rapids, MI, Clearwater, FL or Evendale, OH.

“Our business operates in an extremely competitive environment,” the company’s statement said. “We continually review our organizational needs and have to make adjustments to reflect current economic and market conditions.​”

The laid off Germantown employees received severance packages based on their years of service.  They also were offered outplacement services and, in some cases, transfers to other General Electric facilities.

Notice of the layoffs was published this month on the website of the Maryland Department of Licensing and Labor Relations, which requires large employers to notify the state of “mass layoffs.”

General Electric Aviation is a major manufacturer of jet and turboprop engines, components and other systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft.

This week, the company announced a five-year contract with Brazilian airline GOL Transportes Aereos to provide repair and logistics services for systems provided by General Electric on the Boeing B737NG aircraft.