Published: Friday, February 20, 2009
1,100 pink slips at Boeing; 452 go to Machinists
EVERETT -- The Boeing Co. will hand out layoff notices to 1,100 employees today, including 700 in the Puget Sound region.
About 452 members of Boeing's Machinists union received notices today, said Tom Wroblewski, union district president. Many of those Machinists work in final assembly, several on the 767 and 777 lines.
Wroblewski was surprised by the number of Machinists receiving pink slips. Boeing has said it planned to focus its cuts mostly on overhead positions. With a backlog of 3,700 orders, the company hasn't cut jet production rates yet. Boeing executives have said the company's commercial line is "significantly overbooked" for 2009. But observers still say the company will need to slow 2010 rates.
"It just doesn't make any sense," Wroblewski said.
The previously announced cutbacks come in response to the economic downturn, with Boeing expected to reduce its work force worldwide by 6 percent, or 10,000 positions, by the end of 2009. The overall reduction will include attrition, layoffs and letting some company contractors go. The last day of employment for those receiving today's notices is April 24.
More notices are expected.
"This is a process. We do expect to issue additional 60-day notices on a monthly basis," said Tim Healy, Boeing spokesman.
The layoffs are one piece of Boeing's strategy to slash costs and remain competitive in this tough environment, he said.
Boeing has said it expects to cut about 4,500 positions from its Commercial Airplanes division, mostly in this region. About 750 commercial airplanes workers will get notices today. Boeing already issued 60-day notices for 668 Puget Sound workers in its Shared Services Group and Engineering, Operations and Technology department.
Workers who receive layoff notices today have a variety of services available to them both from Boeing and from the state. Boeing's Career Transition Services team has scheduled layoff briefings in Renton next week and in Everett on March 4 and 9. The team assists employees in looking for other positions within the company and elsewhere. Boeing has more than 460 positions worldwide advertised on its Web site.
Workers who receive layoff notices should also explore the services provided through the Employment Security Department's Work Source. Those workers should do two things: gather the information needed to file for unemployment and begin the job search process, said Sheryl Hutchison, with the department, in a recent interview. Hutchison suggested workers should look at WorkSource's Web site at www.go2WorkSource.com and visit a local office.
About 452 members of Boeing's Machinists union received notices today, said Tom Wroblewski, union district president. Many of those Machinists work in final assembly, several on the 767 and 777 lines.
Wroblewski was surprised by the number of Machinists receiving pink slips. Boeing has said it planned to focus its cuts mostly on overhead positions. With a backlog of 3,700 orders, the company hasn't cut jet production rates yet. Boeing executives have said the company's commercial line is "significantly overbooked" for 2009. But observers still say the company will need to slow 2010 rates.
"It just doesn't make any sense," Wroblewski said.
The previously announced cutbacks come in response to the economic downturn, with Boeing expected to reduce its work force worldwide by 6 percent, or 10,000 positions, by the end of 2009. The overall reduction will include attrition, layoffs and letting some company contractors go. The last day of employment for those receiving today's notices is April 24.
More notices are expected.
"This is a process. We do expect to issue additional 60-day notices on a monthly basis," said Tim Healy, Boeing spokesman.
The layoffs are one piece of Boeing's strategy to slash costs and remain competitive in this tough environment, he said.
Boeing has said it expects to cut about 4,500 positions from its Commercial Airplanes division, mostly in this region. About 750 commercial airplanes workers will get notices today. Boeing already issued 60-day notices for 668 Puget Sound workers in its Shared Services Group and Engineering, Operations and Technology department.
Workers who receive layoff notices today have a variety of services available to them both from Boeing and from the state. Boeing's Career Transition Services team has scheduled layoff briefings in Renton next week and in Everett on March 4 and 9. The team assists employees in looking for other positions within the company and elsewhere. Boeing has more than 460 positions worldwide advertised on its Web site.
Workers who receive layoff notices should also explore the services provided through the Employment Security Department's Work Source. Those workers should do two things: gather the information needed to file for unemployment and begin the job search process, said Sheryl Hutchison, with the department, in a recent interview. Hutchison suggested workers should look at WorkSource's Web site at www.go2WorkSource.com and visit a local office.
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