Published: Friday, April 17, 2009
Boeing to lay off 120 workers locally today
EVERETT -- About 120 Boeing Co. employees in the Puget Sound region will receive layoff notices today as the aerospace company slashes 6 percent of its workforce this year.
Boeing has been issuing pink slips on a monthly basis to workers since announcing in January that cuts were needed in light of a global recession. The company is handing out about 300 notices company wide, with almost half going to workers in the Puget Sound region. In total, nearly 2,188 Boeing employees in the area have received notices, or have been laid off already, since the beginning of the year.
Today's total of 120 notices is the lowest since Boeing began its monthly reduction earlier this year. In March, the company delivered 900 60-day notices, 700 to employees in the Puget Sound region. Boeing Machinists picked up 388 of those pink slips. In late February, Boeing doled out 1,100 notices, including 700 to workers in the region. The company also gave notices to 668 workers at the end of January and in early February.
Boeing has shed a total of 921 workers in the state since Dec. 31, 2008, according to a report on the company's Web site. But the majority of workers who have received notices have not yet left the company.
Overall, the company plans to eliminate 4,500 jobs this year in its commercial airplanes division -- most of them in Washington state. Besides laying off employees, the aerospace company has let go hundreds of contractors and left nearly 1,000 positions unfilled.
Workers who receive a 60-day notice today could be finished at Boeing as early as June 19. However, some Boeing employees who got notices previously have been asked to postpone their departures or have found work elsewhere within the company.
Last week, Boeing announced it will slow production of its Everett-built 777 jet beginning in June 2010. And the company will scrap plans to increase production rates for its 747 and 767. That means more layoffs are likely, a company spokesman said.
"These are extremely difficult economic times for our customers," said Scott Carson, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in a statement last week. "It's necessary to adjust our production plans to align supply with these tough market conditions. We are in close contact with our customers as we continue to monitor this dynamic business environment."
The production decisions and unfavorable price escalation are expected to reduce Boeing's first-quarter 2009 net earnings by approximately $0.38 per share. Boeing will revise its 2009 estimates when it reports its first quarter earnings next Wednesday.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.Today
Boeing has been issuing pink slips on a monthly basis to workers since announcing in January that cuts were needed in light of a global recession. The company is handing out about 300 notices company wide, with almost half going to workers in the Puget Sound region. In total, nearly 2,188 Boeing employees in the area have received notices, or have been laid off already, since the beginning of the year.
Today's total of 120 notices is the lowest since Boeing began its monthly reduction earlier this year. In March, the company delivered 900 60-day notices, 700 to employees in the Puget Sound region. Boeing Machinists picked up 388 of those pink slips. In late February, Boeing doled out 1,100 notices, including 700 to workers in the region. The company also gave notices to 668 workers at the end of January and in early February.
Boeing has shed a total of 921 workers in the state since Dec. 31, 2008, according to a report on the company's Web site. But the majority of workers who have received notices have not yet left the company.
Overall, the company plans to eliminate 4,500 jobs this year in its commercial airplanes division -- most of them in Washington state. Besides laying off employees, the aerospace company has let go hundreds of contractors and left nearly 1,000 positions unfilled.
Workers who receive a 60-day notice today could be finished at Boeing as early as June 19. However, some Boeing employees who got notices previously have been asked to postpone their departures or have found work elsewhere within the company.
Last week, Boeing announced it will slow production of its Everett-built 777 jet beginning in June 2010. And the company will scrap plans to increase production rates for its 747 and 767. That means more layoffs are likely, a company spokesman said.
"These are extremely difficult economic times for our customers," said Scott Carson, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in a statement last week. "It's necessary to adjust our production plans to align supply with these tough market conditions. We are in close contact with our customers as we continue to monitor this dynamic business environment."
The production decisions and unfavorable price escalation are expected to reduce Boeing's first-quarter 2009 net earnings by approximately $0.38 per share. Boeing will revise its 2009 estimates when it reports its first quarter earnings next Wednesday.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.Today
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