EVERETT — The Boeing Co. has issued 924 layoff notices to Machinist union members since January, but says that won’t slow aircraft production.
“We continue to believe these (job) reductions are not going to impact our production rates,” Boeing spokesman Tim Healy said.
On Friday, Boeing delivered 700 layoff notices to Puget Sound employees in its latest round of previously announced layoffs. About 458 of those pink slips went to Machinists, who build Boeing jets. In total, Boeing handed out 900 pink slips to employees companywide.
In light of a tough economy, Boeing said in January that it planned to reduce its work force by 6 percent, or about 10,000 positions. But the jet production work force was to remain essentially untouched.
Machinists union leaders have been surprised by Boeing’s actions, saying the company needs all of its workers to meet jet delivery goals this year.
Healy reaffirmed Boeing’s intent to deliver between 480 and 485 commercial aircraft in 2009.
“We’ve assessed the skills of both hourly and salaried positions,” Healy said. “We have identified some opportunities to reduce employment.”
About 25 members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace received layoff notices Friday — 24 in the Puget Sound region and one in Oregon, a union spokesman said.
Overall, Boeing intends to reduce employment at its commercial airplanes division by 4,500 positions this year, with most of the cuts taking place over the next few months.
The company has frozen about 1,000 unfilled positions — most in overhead functions, Healy said. And Boeing has let go hundreds of contractors, who do not receive official 60-day notices.
Factor in the 924 notices given to Machinists, and Boeing likely has identified 3,000 of the 4,500 jobs it said it would eliminate this year.
Airlines, and in turn Boeing, have been hurt by the drop in air traffic and tightening lending in the financial markets. But Boeing’s Scott Carson, president of the commercial airplanes division, said last week that the company isn’t reducing its production rates. But Carson has said the company may need to revise rates by as much as 10 percent in 2010.
Analysts and some customers have suggested a 10 percent to 35 percent production slowdown will be necessary.
Boeing issued notices to 668 Puget Sound workers in its Shared Services Group and Engineering, Operations and Technology divisions in late January and early February. And 700 pink slips went out Feb. 20 to local workers, 466 of which were Machinists.
Some who receive notices may find other employment with the company. Boeing is holding weekly unemployment workshops. The union urges its affected members to go to its Web site, www.iam751.org, for help.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
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