Government shutdown-prompted furlough of Honeywell plant in KC pushed back

A potential furlough for employees at the Honeywell plant in Kansas City has been pushed back, union officials said, as the ongoing government shutdown stretches into its second month.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers announced earlier in October that about 1,600 of its members at the Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies site would be furloughed starting Nov. 1.

The shutdown began Oct. 1 as Congress has been unable to agree on a plan to fund the federal government.

The Honeywell plant is under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy and manufactures non-nuclear components for the nuclear stockpile.

The union later announced Tuesday that it received notice from the company that it has funding through November, so the plant will not enter shutdown mode, and the furlough has been pushed back to December.

A spokesperson for the campus said that, with support from the National Nuclear Security Administration, the campus has funding to continue operating until the end of November.

“Funding may be extended during the government shutdown,” the spokesperson said. “We are fully committed to maintaining the safety and security of our employees and facilities as we fulfill our vital national security mission.”