OSHKOSH, WI--April 9, 2013 Oshkosh Corporation announced today that its Defense division plans to reduce its workforce in Oshkosh by approximately 700 hourly positions starting in mid-June 2013 and by approximately 200 salaried positions through July. After the layoffs, Oshkosh will employ approximately 2,800 Defense employees in Oshkosh.
“We have taken numerous actions to lessen the impact, including insourcing work customarily done externally, thus saving more than 165 production jobs.”
As discussed on numerous occasions, Oshkosh expects domestic military vehicle production volumes to decline significantly as the year progresses. The Company's lower expected vehicle production is due mainly to the reduction in U.S. Defense budgets and a return to peacetime spending levels as the U.S. winds down war activities. Daily production volumes are expected to decline by approximately 30 percent this summer.
"These were difficult, but necessary decisions," said John Urias, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president of Defense. "When other business segments of Oshkosh and many companies in the U.S. were enduring layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs during the Great Recession, Oshkosh Defense was hiring employees and retaining jobs which ended up helping many people manage through that difficult period. However, circumstances have now changed."
Urias went on to say, "We have taken numerous actions to lessen the impact, including insourcing work customarily done externally, thus saving more than 165 production jobs."
The Company will be reaching out to the county and state workforce development agencies, as well as local employers to help those affected by the layoffs make the transition to other employment if they so desire.
The Company will continue to build high-quality trucks and trailers, and provide support service and training for its military customers around the clock and around the world.
About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense is a leading provider of tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services. For more than 90 years, Oshkosh has been mobilizing military and security forces around the globe by offering a full portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected military vehicles to support our customers' missions. In addition, Oshkosh offers advanced technologies and vehicle components such as TAK-4 independent suspension systems, TerraMax unmanned ground vehicle solutions, Command Zone integrated control and diagnostics system, and ProPulse diesel electric and on-board vehicle power solutions, to provide our customers with a technical edge as they fulfill their missions. Every Oshkosh vehicle is backed by a team of defense industry experts and complete range of sustainment and training services to optimize fleet readiness and performance.
To learn more about Oshkosh Defense, please visit us at Oshkosh Defense .
