GE Aviation announced today that additional measures were needed that will impact our US salaried and hourly workforces. This comes one week after announcing the intended layoff of 10% of the US workforce and the immediate release of most contractors. In my years with GE, I have worried and lost sleep over more RIFs than I care to remember.
As our "leaders" now tell us how they struggle to make the difficult decisions, I realize how that is just not true. GE has a long history of dumping employees at the first sign of trouble. If those that label themselves as "leaders" want to deal with hard decisions, then they should try a different approach. They should seek solutions that retain employees and ensure that GE Aviation employees can keep health insurance and food on the table when it is needed most. Lay-offs under these conditions should be criminal.
I know I would be willing to take a pay cut during this time to ensure that I remain employed and I am willing to bet that most employees would do the same to prevent others from being laid-off right now. Right now, we really do not need "leaders" regurgitating the same rhetoric as they always do, making the same choices they always have. We need real leaders that are able to see us through the crisis by being innovative and compassionate.