Bohemia utility company Reconn Utility Services to lay off 43 workers

A Bohemia company that inspects and maintains infrastructure for gas utility lines will lay off 43 workers following the loss of a contract, county and state documents show.

Reconn Utility Services, which employs 214 workers from its office at 1500 Ocean Ave., said it will lay off the workers after it lost a contract with a regional utility company, according to a notification letter the company sent to Suffolk County, a requirement under federal labor law. The company said layoffs are to be completed on Friday.

Reconn is an affiliate of United States Infrastructure Corporation (USIC), an Indianapolis-based utility maintenance company that manages utility infrastructure for more than 1,400 utilities and municipalities across 48 states, according to the company's website.  

“The unexpected loss of a customer contract substantially reduced the work available to Reconn in New York and required workforce reductions,” Eric Weber, senior director of labor relations for USIC, said in a statement emailed to Newsday. “We recognize the significant impact that job loss has on employees and their families.”

The company did not say which regional utility company Reconn lost its contract with, but Weber said the layoffs “were not a reflection of the affected employees or the quality of their work.”

USIC employs more than 10,000 technicians across the country. 

Local employees affected by the layoffs are represented by CWA Local 1101. Union officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

Layoffs were originally scheduled to occur on Aug. 28, according to a state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice, but were moved to Friday, the company said. 

Job losses at the Bohemia site include 39 gas service technicians, two internal field auditors, one lead internal field auditor and one lead technician, according to a notification letter sent to County Executive Edward P. Romaine dated Aug. 27.

New York State's WARN Act requires companies with at least 50 full-time employees to file a notice of a mass layoff or business closure 90 days in advance. Under federal labor rules, employers must also notify chief elected officials of local governments.