Lake City Ammunition Plant offers layoffs

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) - The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence is offerings its hourly workers voluntary layoffs, with the possibility of involuntary layoffs to follow.

A spokesman for Alliant Techsystems, which operates the U.S. Army plant in Independence, says modernization at the plant is the main reason for the job reductions.

Spokesman Bryan Kidder says the number of expected job cuts and their timing is not known. He says it's likely involuntary layoffs will follow the voluntary departures, in an effort to reduce the workforce of about 2,600.

The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/ZiolOb ) that the plant has undergone $400 million in renovations to increase the efficiency of producing ammunition for the Army.

Kidder also attributed the cutbacks to recent reductions in U.S. military actions.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com