PORT ANGELES — Westport Shipyard Inc. laid off a “small” number of employees in Port Angeles today.
Company officials declined to say how many people were laid off, but a former employee in the design department at the Port Angeles cabinet shop said there were at least six.
Bob Ruecker, human resources director, declined to comment but issued a statement from the yacht-manufacturing company that confirmed layoffs in Port Angeles, Westport and Hoquiam.
“While the number of employees affected by today’s actions is small relative to our total employment, the impact on each individual is very significant,” the statement read.
“These are people that are caught up in the impacts of the [economic] downturn. This is a regrettable situation.”
Phil Beirnes, Westport general manager, could not be reached for comment.
“Westport Shipyard Inc. and our client base are not immune to the effect of the current global economy,” the company statement read.
“This has required Westport to adjust our production to current market demands.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at Rob Ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
