Wabtec Corp, a global provider of rail equipment and services, has announced that it will be reducing its workforce at its Wilmerding facility in Pennsylvania. According to a recent WARN notice, 94 employees will be laid off starting in February/March and the process will be completed by July 1. This decision comes after the company’s previous announcement in April 2022 to permanently close the plant located at 1001 Air Brake Ave, a historic site with a construction date dating back to 1889.
Wabtec Corp., based in Pittsburgh’s North Side, made the decision to close the Wilmerding plant and implement job cuts as per the agreement reached with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE 610) in 2022. Despite experiencing strong sales of $2.55 billion in the third quarter of 2023, a 22.5% increase from Q3 2022, the company is moving forward with the planned layoffs as part of its restructuring efforts. Wabtec Corp. has a significant global presence, employing 27,000 people worldwide, with 5,000 individuals based in Pittsburgh and Erie.
Rafael Santana, the President and CEO of Wabtec, had previously highlighted Pittsburgh’s importance as a crucial hub for the company’s innovation. Nevertheless, the closure of the Wilmerding facility signifies a notable shift in the company’s local operations. The issuance of the WARN notice reflects the company’s overarching strategy to streamline its operations in response to the ever-changing industry landscape.
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