Tentative deal would keep Empire Aero open

Rome (WSYR-TV) - The Empire Aero Center in Rome has filed a WARN notice with State Labor Department, saying major layoffs are a possibility. More than 200 people work at the location on Hangar Road, and all of those employees could get cut.  Labor Department representative Delores Caruso and her colleagues met with the facility's managers Wednesday. “We talk about our services, what we can provide to them and this is a really fabulous company. They deeply care,” Caruso said.

Empire Aero maintains and repairs planes of all types including military and commercial. Many of the affected workers are highly-skilled FAA licensed mechanics. If and when the layoffs happen, they'd occur in stages starting in May.

Rome (WSYR-TV) - Empire Aero Center in Rome plans to lay off as many as 203 people as early as May of this year, according to the New York State Department of Labor.

Empire Aero Center is an aircraft maintenance company located in the Griffis Business park in Rome, the former location of Griffiss AirForce base.

According to Acting Labor Commissioner Colleen Gardner, the department received a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act Notice from the company. The state requires employers to provide 90 days notice prior to a plant closing, mass layoff or relocation.

At Governor Paterson's request, Labor Department staff in Utica has made contact with the company and a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17 with company management to discuss next steps.

The Company said in a statement that the reason for the layoffs is a " ongoing downturn in business." The layoffs will come in stages, starting on May 10, 2010 and continue for the next two weeks.

Empire Aero's parent company, IAI North America is also seeking a buyer for Empire Aero Center.

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