Seattle-based Safeco Corp. says it plans to cut a net of 65 jobs in Spokane as part of a companywide restructuring.


Returning to profitability is the main objective, says Dan Antonietti, assistant vice president of human resources in Safecos Spokane office. Safeco has seen its profits fall over the past few years, and the company sees its current restructuring as a way to counter that decline, he says.


The company announced a first phase of job cuts in May, which eliminated 450 positions nationwide. Its now in a second phase of restructuring, which it says will including slashing another 1,200 jobs nationwide, 600 this year and the rest by the end of 2003.


In Spokane, Safeco is eliminating two underwriting departments. One of those departments, with 50 employees, is being moved to Seattle, Antonietti says. Employees in that department had the option of relocating to Seattle to keep their jobs, but only 13 of them opted to do so, he says. While Safeco is trying to find other jobs with the company here for those employees, those who are not placed will be out of jobs at the end of the year.


The other underwriting department, made up of 25 people, is being eliminated by the end of March 2002, Antonietti says. A handful of other jobs in the Spokane office also will be cut, with a total loss of about 80 positions here, he says.


Meanwhile, however, another department at Safecos Spokane office is expanding. That department, which deals with vehicle claims and is called the total loss unit, is adding 15 positions, Antonietti says.


After the restructuring, Safecos Spokane regional office, which is located at 14610 E. Sprague, will employ between 175 and 200 people. The company also operates a 300-employee customer service contact center here at Liberty Lake, and that operation wont be affected by the reorganization, he says.