2,200 Layoffs In WA, 220 In SC

Boeing will lay off 2,199 workers in Washington state and another 220 in South Carolina on December 20.

Employees in Oregon and Missouri will also be impacted but those numbers were not shared. The layoffs are part of Boeing’s plan to cut about 10% of its global workforce, or about 17,000 jobs, in an effort to stem the company’s financial bleeding as it tries to regain its footing. The company had announced the cuts in October while struggling to recover from safety and financial issues exacerbated by an extended strike.

Now that the nearly two-month strike by 33,000 U.S. West Coast machinists has been resolved, Boeing is trying to restart the production lines for its best-selling 737 MAX. Those lines had been halted by the strike.

The laid off workers will receive pay until January 17 to comply with federal law requiring notification of employees at least 60 days prior to any layoffs.

In a statement, Boeing said, “As previously announced, we are adjusting our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and a more focused set of priorities. We are committed to ensuring our employees have support during this challenging time.”

Boeing also said that “eligible employees will receive severance pay, career transition services, and subsidized health care benefits up to 3 months after exiting the company.”

FMI:  www.boeing.com/