Boeing blames Wichita layoffs on strike

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, November 8, 2005

About 250 people will get layoff notices in Wichita this week. Boeing is blaming the job cuts on the fact that some customers rescheduled plans to bring planes in for maintenance during the Machinists strike this fall, the Wichita Eagle reported. http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/business/industries/aviation/13116675.htm

Key Quote: “The layoffs will cover hourly and salaried workers and managers in the company’s defense unit, as well as employees in its Shared Services Group and information technology operation.”

The paper had reported in October http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/business/12886837.htm that Air Force One was one of the planes that pushed back a maintenance stop because of the strike.

Key Quote: “The cuts are necessary, Boeing told the Machinists, because a plane scheduled to arrive in September was delayed to January and then to April, he said. According to employees, the plane is one of two presidential air transport aircraft, a modified 747-200B. When it is transporting the president, its radio signal is Air Force One.”