Ameren Offers Voluntary Separation To 350 Workers

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ameren Corp. has offered a voluntary separation package to about 350 employees of the utility company and its subsidiaries.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it could record an unusual $30 million charge to this year's earnings if all eligible employees accept the offer.

Employees who qualify are managers who will be 58 or older at year's end. Senior executives and about 60 other employees were not offered the package due to operational needs.

The St. Louis-based company and its subsidiaries have nearly 10,000 employees. It recently cut 140 jobs at Ameren Energy Resources Co. and said Friday that additional cuts are planned.

The company said the reductions are part of efforts to improve efficiency and reduce costs in tough economic times.