SEATTLE – The Boeing (NYSE: ) Engineers Union is officially investigating claims by its members that the company is moving work to non-union locations in the United States and abroad.
The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aviation (SPEEA) formally began investigating the allegations in December, when it requested relevant information from Boeing, union director of strategic development Rich Plunkett said Wednesday.
Union officials are concerned the company is using the company-wide layoff mandate to send work away from the Seattle area, where SPEEA represents 17,000 Boeing workers.
In October, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the company would cut roughly 10% of its workforce, or 17,000 jobs, “to align with our financial realities.” The U.S. planemaker posted a loss of nearly $8 billion in the first nine months of 2024. The company is expected to report more losses when it reports its year-end results on Tuesday.
In November and December, Boeing issued layoff notices to more than 4,000 U.S. workers, including 660 SPEEA members, according to publicly available state employment and union records.
Shortly after the first round of notices went out, SPEEA officials began hearing from members that “at least some of the work that was being done by those who were laid off is now being sent to other Boeing locations,” Plunkett said.
Boeing declined to comment Wednesday.
