Originally posted by MarkJerling How can they be talking about layoffs with that workload???
They work everyone right up until the layoff notices are handed out.
A manager told me tonight that on October 1st they are letting go about half of the first level managers (the supervisors over the crews). Many of then are former mechanics, and will go back to their (tool) boxes. That will begin the bumping, and the newest mechanics hired will be the first to go.
But.
The new 777X with the composite wings is ramping up. The first round of selection from the workers who have put their names in the hat for those jobs has already happened and they are beginning to trickle into that new multi billion dollar composite wing center they are just finishing building.
The second round will happen in a couple months, depending on the progress of the completion of the wing center.
Also.
When the last Machinist's Union contract was renegotiated the old Boeing pension was ended. So far this year a few thousand workers have retired, and the exodus continues . . . . . . . . .
That leaves a vacuum that requires filling.
Oh, and sometime in October we go from a 2.5 day rate to a 3 day rate. If they don't sell enough airplanes soon they say we may even go to a 5 day rate. At least then there shouldn't be as much overtime.
I'm not too concerned about a layoff, and really, there isn't anything I can do to stop it if it does get to me. I hope it doesn't. I have 4 years, 11 months, 14 days until I retire. If I get laid off I may just explore early retirement. I have the state pension from 30 years at the PUD (electric utility). And the 401 from Boeing.
And Social Insecurity.