Boeing plans to cut about 2,200 jobs in Washington state, home to many of its oldest factories, according to a statement released Monday.
Companies in the United States are required by law to submit “Warning” notices (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications) to local authorities 60 days before any layoffs.
In its notice, Boeing said it would begin making permanent layoffs starting Dec. 20. A total of 2,199 people will be affected.
The group has been plagued by production quality problems, and has just endured a strike lasting more than 50 days that paralyzed two key factories.
On October 12, Boeing unveiled plans to cut its global workforce by 10 percent in the coming months, without giving further details.
Boeing had about 170,000 employees at the end of last year, with about 67,000 of them in Washington state, where the company was founded and where it builds its best-selling 737 line of airplanes, the 777, 767. And prepares with many soldiers. Airplane
Its plants in Renton and Everett, near Seattle, were recently hit by a strike involving more than 33,000 members of the local branch of the International Association of Machinists (IAM), who are discussing pay and working conditions. were talking
“As previously announced, we are aligning our workforce levels with our financial reality and a more focused set of priorities,” a company spokesperson told AFP.
Most of the employees who received layoff notices this week will leave the company in mid-January, according to Boeing. Benefits and health insurance will continue to be paid for three months thereafter.
The aviation giant also plans to cut 50 jobs in Oregon and 63 in Colorado, according to a warning notice on Monday.
In South Carolina, where the 787 Dreamliner factory is located, 220 jobs are expected to be lost in January.
Boeing employs thousands of workers at these three locations.
Engineers union SPEEA (Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace) was notified Thursday evening that 438 of its members would be laid off, according to a spokesman.
The union has more than 19,000 members across the United States, about 16,500 of whom work for Boeing.
