Slow sales force elimination of salaried jobs at RTI Niles

STAFF REPORT

WEATHERSFIELD — RTI Niles has eliminated the jobs of nearly 20 salaried workers because of slow sales.

“It’s tied to the deepening economic recession that’s affecting every part of the economy, including RTI,” said Richard Leone, a spokesman for RTI International Metals.

The people losing their jobs worked primarily in Weathersfield Township. They worked in the corporation’s information systems and for the titanium group.

He said RTI wasn’t releasing the exact number of workers being let go or how many worked in Weathersfield. RTI has a titanium mill in the township which used to be known as RMI Titanium, and corporate offices. About 175 salaried and 400 hourly workers are employed locally.

In addition, RTI began taking other steps at the end of last year to control costs. These included restricting hiring, suspended merit pay increases for salaried workers and eliminating overtime and non-essential spending, Leone said.

The company also has stopped construction work on two new plants in Virginia and Mississippi.

RTI employs 1,600 at 18 locations around the world.