EVERETT — The Boeing Co. has handed out nearly 200 layoff notices — job cuts above the 4,500 it had previously announced.
Roughly 190 employees — flight services and facilities maintenance workers — recently received notices from Boeing that they may be laid off in the next 60 days. The move concerns Machinists leaders who say the job cuts could violate the union’s labor contract with Boeing.
On Jan. 9, Boeing announced plans to shed 4,500 “overhead” positions in its commercial airplanes division, with notices going out Feb. 20. The 190 employees who have already received layoff notices work for the company’s Shared Services Group division, which has several thousand workers. Although those workers sometimes maintain parking areas or fix electrical problems at Boeing Commercial Airplanes facilities, they do not report to the commercial division, said Cindy Wall, a company spokeswoman.
Some workers who received notices may find other positions within Boeing since the company continues to hire for other jobs, Wall said. Boeing will provide career transition services for workers warned of layoffs.
Tom Wroblewski, local president for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, told members the union will fight the company over the 190 positions. The Machinists staged a 57-day strike last year, shutting down Boeing’s commercial jet production, in a contract dispute. Wroblewski believes that a provision in the contract protects Machinists from layoffs if the company has contractors it can lay off instead.
The union believed it had made strides in guaranteeing Machinists’ positions during the final round of contract negotiations with Boeing last year. The Machinists have filed an information request from Boeing but can’t take any further action until workers are let go, said Connie Kelliher, union spokeswoman.
Boeing’s Tim Healy said the company can contract out work that has always been performed by subcontractors.
But “none of the 190 who received (layoff) notices are losing their jobs as the result of subcontracting,” Healy said.
Union members who received the layoff notices may be eligible to move into jet production positions if they had worked on the assembly floor previously, the Machinists’ Kelliher said. Boeing lately has slowed its hiring pace for production workers — adding just 37 Machinists this month, roughly 300 people fewer than last January. The union questions Boeing’s ability to maintain its facilities and equipment safely if it cuts the 190 workers.
“There isn’t any fewer machines or facilities to maintain,” Kelliher said.
Earlier this month, Boeing said it needs to cut costs at its commercial airplanes division in light of the weakening economy. But Boeing officials suggested that the majority of production workers would be spared from the 4,500 layoffs in February. Boeing’s engineers union also insists the company should let go roughly 2,500 contract engineers before laying off its members.
At the end of 2008, Boeing employed more than 76,000 workers in Washington state. The company’s commercial airplanes division had about 67,700 employees. Boeing reports its fourth quarter and 2008 earnings this morning.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
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