Rendell asks Sunoco to rescind job cuts

PHILADELPHIA - March 19, 2009 - Rendell says it's "unconscionable" for the oil company to be laying off 20 percent of its salaried work force when it made $776 million in profit last year. He made his argument in a letter sent Thursday to Sunoco's board of directors and later released publicly.

Rendell says he understands that some companies must lay off workers to stay afloat during the recession. But he says this is not the case with Sunoco.

A spokesman for Philadelphia-based Sunoco says the layoffs are needed to keep the company profitable, competitive and attractive to investors. Thomas Golembeski says the company will not reverse the cuts.

Pennsylvania lost 41,000 jobs last month.

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