Boeing to cut 1,100 workers on C-17 program
Boeing Co said on Thursday it would lay off 1,100 workers who make the company's C-17 cargo plane, as it scales down assembly rates to extend the life of the production line.
January 21, 2011 / 09:31 IST
Boeing Co said on Thursday it would lay off 1,100 workers who make the company's C-17 cargo plane, as it scales down assembly rates to extend the life of the production line.
Boeing spokesman Jerry Drelling said layoff notices would go out starting Friday to workers in Long Beach, California; St. Louis, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; and Macon, Georgia. The 1,100 workers represent about 24% of the total employees on Boeing's C-17 line.The company said last year it would cut its C-17 production rate to 10 a year from 15 due to a recent decrease in domestic orders."This is a very difficult decision the company had to make with regards to the workforce," Drelling said.Boeing's C-17 has long been a lightning rod for controversy as the Pentagon pressures Congress to stop ordering the plane.Boeing has said, however, that the international market for the C-17 is strong and that it has received solid interest from India and Kuwait."What we're really trying to do is extend the life of the production line so we can capture additional international orders," Drelling said.Shares of Boeing, a Dow component, were off 2 cents at USD 71.71 in morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
