Boeing, once the flagship of American industry, has sent the first layoff notifications, as part of the plan to reduce its global workforce by 10%, which concerns nearly 2,200 people in the state of Washington (northwest) alone. .
The aeronautical group, plagued by production quality problems and which has just suffered a strike of more than 50 days which paralyzed two crucial factories, announced on October 12 its intention to reduce its global workforce by 10% in the coming years. month, without further details.
As of December 31, 2023, it employed 170,688 people.
According to a document made public Monday by the Washington State Employment Security Service, the American aircraft manufacturer has decided to lay off 2,199 people starting December 20. American companies must send so-called WARN (Worker adjustment and retraining notification) declarations to local authorities sixty days before any dismissal.
As of December 31, 2023, Boeing employed 66,797 people in this state where it was founded in July 1926 and where the assembly lines for the 737 are located in Renton – its best-selling aircraft -, the 777, the 767 and several military programs in Everett.
These two factories, located near Seattle, were blocked by the strike of more than 33,000 members of the local branch of the machinists' union (IAM) in the context of negotiations for the new social agreement.
“As previously announced, we are adjusting the level of our workforce to align with our financial reality and our new priorities,” the group said.
According to Boeing, most employees receiving layoff notices this week will leave Boeing in mid-January, with benefits and health insurance for three months.
The engineers' union SPEEA (Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace) was warned Thursday evening that 438 of its members would be laid off, according to a spokesperson.
It has more than 19,000 members in the United States, including around 16,500 working at Boeing (Washington, Oregon, California and Utah).
