Laid-off Boeing workers could qualify for more benefits

Boeing Co. workers who were laid off by the aerospace company may qualify for additional federal assistance, thanks to Boeing’s unions.

After Boeing announced in January that it would slash 10,000 positions companywide, its unions petitioned the U.S. Department of Labor for help for affected employees. That aid includes additional training benefits, extended unemployment insurance, health-care coverage assistance and relocation reimbursements. Laid-off Boeing workers do not have to be union members to be eligible.

This “provides a substantial safety net for other Boeing employees impacted by layoff,” said Tom Wroblewski, president of the local International Association of Machinists.

The Machinists worked with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, as well as the Washington State Labor Council, on the petition.

The aid comes under the Trade Adjustment Act, which provides assistance to workers who have lost their jobs because of foreign competition. By ruling that Boeing workers are eligible for Trade Act benefits, the Labor Department determined that Boeing reduced the portion of aircraft components it produced itself or bought from U.S. sources between 2007 and 2009, and lost U.S. market share in the single-aisle jet market to foreign competitors during the same period. Both these factors “contributed importantly” to industry layoffs, the department ruled.

Since January, Boeing has cut 3,381 jobs in Washington state as the company responds to a drop in both commercial aircraft demand and upcoming defense work.

However, Boeing Machinists have not borne the brunt of the layoffs, as union leaders feared would be the case early on. During the initial layoff rounds, Boeing cut hundreds of Machinists.

But, through the end of October, Machinists have lost a total of 254 jobs in the state. Boeing laid off 462 Machinists but hired 208.

The Labor ruling covers not only Boeing workers in the Puget Sound region but also those in Portland, Ore. Any worker – union or nonunion – laid off by Boeing on or after May 22, 2008, can apply for the federal benefits. And the ruling includes any workers who will be laid off over the next two years.

“We hope word gets out and those affected will take advantage of these tremendous benefits,” Wroblewski said. “Just because our members aren’t drawing paychecks from Boeing right now doesn’t mean we’re not still fighting for them.”

To qualify, eligible former workers need to attend an information session, including one on Dec. 2 in Everett. The Trade Act benefits are administered by WorkSource.

Former Boeing workers may be eligible for a range of federal benefits, including: