Attorney General Announces Court Has Permitted State Fight Against Pratt & Whitney Layoffs

Connecticut Attorney General's Office

Press Release

Attorney General Announces Court Has Permitted State Fight Against Pratt & Whitney Layoffs

November 10, 2009

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced that a federal judge has granted his office permission to file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a union lawsuit seeking to block transfer of about 1,000 jobs out of state and overseas.

Blumenthal plans to file a brief next month to protect the state's vital interest in preserving jobs, contending that Pratt & Whitney failed to seriously consider a $100 million state incentive package and other options to avoid the layoffs.

He will support a lawsuit by District Lodge 26 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers charging that the job transfers violate its labor agreement with Pratt & Whitney and asking the court to stop the layoffs.

The court recently granted Blumenthal permission to enter the case after Blumenthal argued that the layoffs will have a significant impact on the state economy, revenue collection for state government and labor relations.

"This federal court decision promises a fairer fight -- and recognizes Connecticut's serious stake in protecting jobs and workers and our local economy," Blumenthal said.

"Pratt's defense is deficient and should be defeated. Disregarding $100 million in state incentives and other readily available alternatives, Pratt pushed ahead with layoffs. I am committed to fighting these job cuts and hold Pratt accountable -- to its promise to exercise all reasonable efforts to maintain these jobs in Connecticut.

"Pratt cannot conscionably defend its disregard of the state's offers and its job destruction."