Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, whose 33,000 employees in the northwestern United States have been on strike since September 13, announced that they will be placed on partial technical unemployment “in the coming days.”
This measure will affect tens of thousands of employees in the United States, according to the company.
To mitigate the impact of the decision, employees affected by the rotation will be placed on technical unemployment for one week every four weeks, company president Kelly Ortberg explained.
The move comes after Boeing, which is facing difficulties and widespread protests, announced on Monday that it is considering implementing technical unemployment measures in the coming weeks.
“It is important that we take tough action to preserve our finances and ensure Boeing’s ability to successfully recover,” Ortberg said Wednesday.
He added that the partial technical unemployment measure will affect “a large number of managers, officials and employees in the United States.”
Ortberg, who took over Boeing on August 8, stressed that the group remains determined to re-establish its relationship with the striking employees and continue negotiations to reach a collective agreement as soon as possible.
Negotiations resumed Tuesday with federal mediation but ended without results Wednesday evening, according to the union representing the workers.
“We are open to continuing negotiations, either directly or through mediation, but no date has been set yet,” the union said.
About 96 percent of union members representing 33,000 Seattle employees voted to strike after rejecting a proposed collective bargaining agreement.
“Production is at a complete standstill on many important programs in the Northwest,” Ortberg admitted.
Negotiations are faltering, particularly over the size of the increase in salaries and pensions.
