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Momentive Performance Materials Inc. wants to cut 49 employees in its warehouse and maintenance divisions and outsource that work to outside companies.

The company, which is in the process of moving its headquarters to a site in Rensselaer County, announced the plans to the affected employees on Wednesday. Momentive has 5,000 employees worldwide; 20 percent of them work at a plant in Waterford, where the 49 jobs—which make up the warehouse and maintenance divisions—would be eliminated.

All but six positions are unionized, so the local 359 of the IUE-CWA must approved those job cuts, said Momentive spokesman John Scharf. The two sides have 45 days for bargaining and negotiations, he said.

If approved, the cuts would begin before the end of this year.

Union officials could not be reached for comment.

Momentive was formed less than two years ago when General Electric Co. sold its silicone plants for $3.8 billion to Apollo Management LP, a private-equity firm in Westchester County. The company makes adhesives, resins and sealants for a number of industries and business sectors, including cosmetics, agriculture and electronics.

Last year, the company lost $254 million on sales of $2.5 billion.

In mid-July, the company announced that it was moving its global headquarters from Wilton, Conn., to a yet-undetermined site in Rensselaer County, creating 150 jobs in the process payday loan. In exchange for $6.5 million in state funds, Momentive has committed to $150 million in new projects at its Waterford site over the next five years.

Scharf said Momentive will save money and become more productive by cutting the 49 workers in question and contracting with outside firms, who will hire their own workers to do the work at Momentive’s Waterford plant. He declined to provide an estimate of those savings.

Scharf said Momentive has not yet selected any firm to provide the work.

“We are hopeful that within those 45 days, we’ll reach an agreement,” Scharf said. If not, the union and Momentive could opt to extend the negotiation period, or there could be a work stoppage, among other options, Scharf said.

Workers who are laid off could be eligible for severance pay packages, as well as continued medical and dental benefits, Scharf said. Certain employees would also be eligible for tuition reimbursement and retraining benefits for up to 12 months after they are released.

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