JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One of Jacksonville’s largest employers is steamrolling ahead – now without 1,000 employees. Cipeo Walker is one of them.
“We knew things were in the process of rolling. It just seems like it was so quick,” he explained.
Walker was an account coordinator at CSX. He had been with them nine years. He tells Action News Jax Erica Bennett about 400 people, most of whom were over age 58 and had been with the company more than eight years, took an early retirement package. The rest of the layoffs were considered involuntary.
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Walker was off on Monday, so he received his notice over the phone. Despite that, he still caught wind of the mood in the building.
“It was kind of a little scary. You saw people being walked out, so you don’t know if you were going to be next. You work at a railroad like CSX and you expect to be in that railroad until you retire.”
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Walker got a six-month payment package, so will be OK. Still, he’s looking towards the future.
“What’s next for you?” we asked.
“Whatever God leads me to,” he said.
On Wednesday, CSX sent Action News Jax this statement about the job cuts:
"On Monday, CSX concluded the Involuntary Separation Program announced on February 21. Approximately 800 management positions were eliminated, including about 500 in Jacksonville across multiple locations and subsidiaries. Approximately half of the 500 employees in Jacksonville were retirement eligible and elected to take the enhanced severance package provided under the program.
"These were all difficult decisions. Each of the employees made important contributions, and we are grateful for their service and dedication. While the company has been making significant improvements in efficiency, we have to accelerate our progress to meet stakeholder expectations."
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