PerkinElmer Layoffs: The Valley Reacts

PerkinElmer’s decision to layoff about 75 workers in Shelton is a disappointment to Valley residents, to say the least.

The company confirmed the layoffs Wednesday, according to an article in the Hartford Courant.

The company employs 500 people in Shelton.

Reaction to the news on the Valley Indy Facebook wall was tinged with anger, specifically because the company is sending jobs overseas:

Carol Kirby: ​“Sad news for their employees and for Shelton. Hope the layoffs end here.”

Carla McNulty: ​“Lower the taxes in this country & jobs will stay home, where they belong! Is there any politicians out there who HONESTLY cares about the citizens of America & where our present & future economy is headed?!?”

Emma Huller: ​“And sadly there will be more to come … or should I say go.”

Caryn Zlamany Rickel: ​“It’s never been this bad..cant borrow either …unreal.”

Christopher Bowen: ​“We need to make it so that companies that move their jobs overseas are heavily punished. Give them incentives for hiring American (the carrot), and then slam them for taking jobs to places like Singapore (the stick).”

Chris Papcin: ​“I’m fine with them lowering taxes but keep in mind that the money needed to pay for your kids’ schools, plowing the roads, police and fire departments, libraries etc., needs to come from somewhere. With less tax money coming in cuts will need to be made which will probably begin with state and town jobs. From there some of these services will be eliminated.”

Frank Sardo: ​“These companies that outsource aren’t going to be happy until we become a third world state … that’s what it’s coming too.”

Lee Akter: ​“I agree with Mr. Bowen. The ​“global” economy has been hell on American workers & American families. NAFTA was the beginning of the end for us. Does anyone remember H. Ross Perot and his pie charts? The man was a prophet!”

Caryn Zlamany Rickel: ​“Political guru here says : Its a companies *right to go anywhere they want.To counter this need lower corporate taxes to bring them in, & lose the unions. Heard Sikorsky is getting ready to do lay offs.This is all greek to me, learning.”

Frances Gambardella McManus: ​“As one of the families that are affected by all of this, we only hope and pray that our job will be saved along with many others.”

Steve Hoffmann: ​“More jobs going overseas…more and more jobs leaving means the country is not producing or exporting…and if u look at history it is the begining of big problems for a civilization/country.”

Teresa Gallagher: ​“Sorry to see that. PerkinElmer employees did a lot of volunteer work in Shelton last summer.”

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