Boeing, one of the biggest names in aviation, has announced plans to lay off nearly 2,200 workers in Washington state, where many of its oldest factories are located. The move is part of a larger plan to reduce the company’s global workforce by 10%.
On Monday, Boeing started sending out the first notifications to employees about the layoffs. These are required by law in the U.S., giving workers 60 days’ notice before they lose their jobs. The layoffs are set to begin on December 20, with 2,199 people affected in total.
Boeing has faced production issues and recently experienced a long strike that lasted more than 50 days, shutting down two key factories. Back in October, the company revealed its plan to cut 10% of its workforce, but didn’t give many details about which jobs would be impacted.
As of last year, Boeing employed around 170,000 people, with nearly 67,000 working in Washington state. This includes workers in factories in Renton and Everett, near Seattle, where Boeing makes its popular 737 airplanes, as well as other models and military planes.
The strike earlier this year involved over 33,000 workers who were fighting for better pay and working conditions. Boeing said the layoffs are part of efforts to align its workforce with the company’s financial situation and a more focused direction.
For those affected by the layoffs, Boeing will continue to provide benefits and health insurance for up to three months after their departure. The layoffs will mainly happen in mid-January.
In addition, 438 members of the engineers’ union, SPEEA, were also notified about job cuts this week. This union represents over 19,000 workers across the U.S., with about 16,500 of them working for Boeing.
