CORNING, N.Y., Feb. 6 -- Corning Inc. -- following up on its warning of some softness in fiber optic sales in the first quarter -- is eliminating all 354 temporary jobs at its optical components plant. They are the first job cuts since the optical amplifier manufacturing facility was opened in 1997. Corning said it still expects 75 to 90 percent growth this year in the photonics business.
The job cuts were required because some customers might cut back on orders, the company said. Most of the temporary workers were hired in the last year and are not directly employed by Corning. In fact, the company plans this year to expand the photonics factory, which employs nearly 1000 production workers.