ATK Space Systems lays off 420 in Utah

CLEARFIELD (AP) — The company that builds booster rockets for the space shuttle has laid off another 420 workers in Utah.

Clearfield-based ATK Space Systems cited the phase-out of the space shuttle and Minuteman III ballistic missile program — the same reasons it laid off 550 workers in Utah in October.

ATK spokesman George Torres says Thursday's layoffs hit factory workers, engineers and administrative workers at a Clearfield plant that refurbishes spent booster rockets; a Promontory manufacturing and test facility; and a factory in Magna that made Minuteman missiles.

ATK says it gave the workers a week's pay for every year of service, up to a maximum of 26 weeks of pay. Torres says federal stimulus funds will give each employee up to $800 a month to subsidize the cost of COBRA health insurance coverage for 15 months.