Sweeping Cuts at Boeing Result in Layoffs of Over 2,500 US Workers
Boeing is set to lay off over 2,500 workers in Washington, Oregon, South Carolina, and Missouri, as part of its plan to reduce its workforce by 10% or 17,000 jobs globally, according to filings and a union official.
Washington will see around 2,200 layoffs, while South Carolina will have about 220. Boeing has not commented on the layoffs as of Monday.
U.S. workers affected by the layoffs will remain on Boeing’s payroll until January 17 to adhere to federal regulations requiring a 60-day notice before termination.
This move was expected after Boeing announced in mid-November that more layoffs were coming in December. The company may also reduce its workforce through attrition, selective hiring, and selling subsidiaries.
Boeing’s stock rose by 2.6% to $143.87 on Monday.
In October, Boeing’s CEO stated that they do not plan to remove workers from production or engineering. The WARN notices are eagerly anticipated as an indication of the impact on workers in Boeing’s manufacturing hubs.
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Despite the CEO’s statement, hundreds of engineers and production workers have received layoffs. The aerospace union reported that 438 members at Boeing were affected, including engineers and technicians. Meanwhile, 111 members in St. Louis received notices, primarily working on wing components for the 777X.
The layoffs seem to vary across different sections within Boeing, with some non-union workers noting discrepancies in the impact on their teams. These notices coincide with Boeing’s efforts to resume 737 MAX production after a labor strike halted commercial jet output.
By Dan Catchpole and Allison Lampert
