GE Security to lay off about 200 Tualatin employees

by Megan Crepeau

Monday January 12, 2009, 2:52 PM

More than 200 employees will be laid off from GE Security's Tualatin manufacturing facilities this year, company officials confirmed today.

GE Security is cutting all of its manufacturing jobs in Tualatin, moving them to GE locations across the United States and Mexico, said GE Security spokeswoman Michelle May. The company notified the state of its plans to lay off 222 employees, according to the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development.
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The company is considering incentives for those manufacturing employees who relocate and severance packages for those who don't, May said

The cutbacks would leave about 100 other GE Security employees in Tualatin, mostly in positions like customer service and accounting who deal with GE's national office, May said. The remaining employees will be moving to a smaller building.

"We are consolidating," May said. "This comes down to just trying to remain competitive."

The layoff plan has been announced at the Tualatin facility, located at 12345 SW Leveton Drive, but no employees have been given individual notices yet. May estimated that employees would start to leave around April and continue through the rest of the year.

The Tualatin branch of GE Security, which is part of the General Electric Co., makes video products, access control and intrusion products. Most of that manufacturing will be moved to facilities in Maine and North Carolina, May said.

GE Security could be considering cutbacks at its other locations, according to May.

"It's a tough environment," she said. "We're trying to make it as smooth as possible, but it's still tough."

-- Megan Crepeau; megancrepeau@news.oregonian.com