United Technologies Cancels Furlough Plans

United Technologies Corp., headquartered in Hartford, Conn., has canceled plans to furlough employees at its aerospace businesses following the recall of Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) inspectors responsible for auditing and approving operations throughout the manufacturing process for military products.

 

On Saturday, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel issued a directive “to eliminate furloughs for employees whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities, and readiness of service members.” The refined interpretation of the Pay Our Military Act by Dept. of Defense and Dept. of Justice officials significantly reduces civilian furloughs, but will not entirely eliminate them.

 

In a statement issued Sunday, United Technologies officials say they greatly appreciate the efforts of those in the Administration and Congress who facilitated the recall of the furloughed civilian employees in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

 

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin officials announced Monday that the company will still have approximately 2,400 employees unable to work because the civil government facility where the employees perform their work is closed, or the company received a stop-work order on their DoD or civil government program. Of the 2,400 employees, approximately 2,100 work on civilian agency programs and 300 work on DoD programs. The affected employees are located in 27 states, with the majority based in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.