Boeing layoffs leave 2199 workers searching for new jobs

Boeing layoffs deepen as the aerospace giant cuts nearly 2,200 jobs in Washington state. The layoffs, part of a broader reduction of approximately 17,000 jobs globally, are aimed at streamlining operations after recent financial difficulties and significant strikes. Boeing announced the job cuts as it grapples with overstaffing issues following a strike that lasted almost two months.

The company filed a notice with Washington’s Employment Security Department indicating 2,199 workers would be affected, with permanent layoffs expected to start on December 20. Before these announcements, Boeing employed 66,000 workers in Washington. The layoffs impact all three Boeing divisions: commercial airplanes, defense, and global services. Additionally, more than 400 members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) received notices last week, although their severance will allow them to remain on payroll through mid-January.

Boeing’s decision to reduce its workforce follows substantial challenges, including a lengthy machinists’ strike and ongoing production quality problems. The strike involved over 33,000 members of the local branch of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and crippled production at key factories. CEO Kelly Ortberg noted during an October conference call that the layoffs were a result of needing to adjust to “financial reality and a more focused set of priorities” rather than being directly caused by the strike.

Boeing has faced serious financial turbulence since two fatal crashes of its 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019, which collectively claimed 346 lives. The company’s reputation further declined after a fuselage blowout incident with an Alaska Airlines plane earlier this year. Production rates had already seen significant slowdowns, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) set a production cap of 38 planes per month for the 737 MAX, which Boeing failed to reach even before the strike halted assembly.

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Boeing’s drastic cuts reflect its ongoing struggle to stabilize operations. The company had around 170,000 employees globally by the end of last year, and the announcement of the layoffs signals severe adjustments in what was once a robust workforce. The impending layoffs will have ripple effects, not just for Boeing but across the aerospace sector, which is also feeling the pressure of reduced demand and production issues.

As Boeing restructures its workforce, the layoffs are significant for the state of Washington, which is home to Boeing’s oldest and most vital manufacturing facilities, including those producing the best-selling 737 line. The heavy focus on cost-cutting will inevitably affect employees, many of whom have dedicated years to the company, as well as the economy in surrounding communities that depend on Boeing’s operational presence.

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