55 jobs eliminated in Cedar Rapids in latest Rockwell Collins cuts

Rockwell Collins plans to eliminate 90 positions as a string of work force reductions continued at the aerospace and defense electronics company.

The cutbacks, announced to employees Monday morning, involved primarily the company's Government Systems operations in Cedar Rapids and in Carlsbad, Calif., according to Rockwell Collins spokeswoman Pam Tvrdy. Most are engineering and operations positions.

"Continued declines and delays in defense spending and slower than expected recovery in the global economy" were cited in the reduction announcement.

Tvrdy said 55 of the positions are being eliminated in Cedar Rapids, and just under 30 are being eliminated in Carlsbad, where the company manufactures small helmet-mounted displays.

With about 8,800 employees in Cedar Rapids and 20,000 worldwide, Rockwell Collins is the largest private employer in the Corridor and the largest publicly traded company headquartered in the area. Although it has already announced several previous rounds of cutbacks, even more are likely unless Congress takes action to reverse or prioritize across-the-board budget cuts that are expected to hit defense programs this fall.

Rockwell Collins is also affected by the economic slowdown in Europe.

"We are currently considering a number of different options to better position and optimize our business in Europe," Tvrdy said.

The review includes methods by which Rockwell Collins subsidiaries in Europe could work more closely together to create synergies and avoid duplication.

In compliance with European labor laws, the company is discussing proposals with government work councils and employees. Tvrdy said the results of the process will be made public after it concludes and a final decision has been made.