Sikorsky to cut 200 positions

Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced plans Thursday to eliminate 200 hourly positions mostly based in Connecticut.

The helicopter manufacturer is currently offering “voluntary separation packages” to eligible union employees, said spokesman Paul Jackson. It is unknown how many employees will be eliminated in the deal, which is a part of a workforce reduction by United Technologies Corp., owner of Sikorsky and Pratt & Whitney, a jet engine manufacturer. Between the two companies, just under 1,000 employees have been cut or given buyout packages since June.

In light of military budget cuts and economic uncertainty worldwide,  UTC officials earlier this year announced plans to reduce its global workforce by about 3,000 employees by the end of the year.

The company employs about 210,000 people in 71 countries and last year it laid off 4,000 employees. At Sikorksy, which employs about 8,000 people in Connecticut and is the leading employer in Fairfield County, military contracts make up 50 percent of sales. Moving forward, however, the company plans to decrease its reliance on military contracts in favor of international and commercial sales.

“Sikorsky continues to look to a promising future, but today we face difficult challenges,” said Sikorsky spokesman Paul Jackson in a statement. “We must do all we can to protect our competitiveness while investing in our future.”

In July about 575 Pratt & Whitney employees accepted buyouts from the company, which was followed by a round of 400 layoffs.