CSX said Wednesday it concluded its involuntary separation program on Monday.
Spokesman Gary Sease said about 800 management positions were eliminated, including about 500 in Jacksonville across multiple locations and subsidiaries.
He said about half of the 500 employees in Jacksonville were eligible for retirement and elected to take the enhanced severance package provided under the program.
Sease said all management employees who are leaving under the program are receiving the enhanced benefits, which include outplacement services.
“These were all difficult decisions. Each of the employees made important contributions and we are grateful for their service and dedication,” Sease said.
The layoffs came as new CEO Hunter Harrison took the job Monday. He is known as a railroad cost-cutter and a turnaround expert.
Harrison will work from Jacksonville-based CSX’s Downtown headquarters, Sease said.
“While the company has been making significant improvements in efficiency, we have to accelerate our progress to meet stakeholder expectations,” Sease said.
He said the majority of the management employee reductions are completed, “but we always work to match” resources with business demand.
CSX announced Feb. 21 it would cut 1,000 management jobs, primarily in Jacksonville, by late March.
Asked about the other 200 jobs, Sease said Wednesday the reductions are focused on management employees.
“The majority of the management employee reductions are done. We will continue to do what is necessary to accelerate our progress toward improved efficiencies and performance,” he said.
Sease said in February a majority of the employees being let go are in Jacksonville across multiple locations and subsidiaries, but some affected management employees also are in the transportation company’s field organization.
“However, until further study and evaluation, we will not have specific impacts on local and field organizations,” he said then.
At that time, Sease said there were more than 2,500 management employees in Jacksonville.
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