Today or Friday will be the final day of Hanford nuclear reservation employment for more than 1,000 workers.

Friday is the last working day of fiscal 2011, but many Hanford workers are on an extended work day schedule that includes a day off every other Friday, which falls this week.

CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co. has announced plans to lay off 1,039 workers as of Friday, but started processing them last week because of the large number. They will be paid through this week.

Mission Support Alliance announced plans to lay off 276 workers, with today their last day. Those layoffs and CH2M Hill's layoffs are linked to the end of most federal economic stimulus spending, although a mix of both new and more experienced workers will lose their jobs.

In addition, Washington River Protection Solutions is cutting 76 union positions as of Friday, with additional nonunion positions to be cut in October. Those cuts are linked to the uncertain fiscal 2012 budget.

Some workers for the three contractors volunteered for the layoffs, but most of the cuts are involuntary. The Hanford severance package includes a week's pay for every year worked up to 20 years.