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Boeing to start temporary furloughs amid Seattle strike

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  • Boeing to start temporary furloughs amid Seattle strike
  • September 18, 2024
  • Article Body Text New York — <p>Boeing said Wednesday it would start temporary furloughs of professional and white-collar staff as it seeks to conserve cash amid a labor strike that has shuttered Seattle manufacturing plants.</p> <p>The furloughs, which pertain to executives, managers and workers, will be initiated in the coming days and affect tens of thousands of Boeing employees, company officials said.</p> <p>Boeing plans for &quot;selected employees to take one week of furlough every four weeks on a rolling basis for the duration of the strike,&quot; said a message to employees from CEO Kelly Ortberg.</p> <p>The new Boeing boss added that he and the rest of the leadership team &quot;will take a commensurate pay reduction for the duration of the strike.&quot;</p> <p>Boeing had said that furloughs were on the table earlier in the week when it announced a hiring freeze, travel budget austerity measures and a reduction of supplier expenditures.</p> <p>About 33,000 Seattle-area Boeing workers with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 751 walked off the job Friday after overwhelmingly rejecting a contract renewal.</p> <p>The two sides resumed talks Tuesday with the assistance of mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.</p> <p>The IAM blasted Boeing in a bargaining update posted late Tuesday.</p> <p>&quot;We are frustrated,&quot; the IAM said. &quot;The company was not prepared and was unwilling to address the issues you've made clear are essential for ending this strike: Wages and Pension. The company doesn't seem to be taking mediation seriously.&quot;</p> <p>Ortberg's message to employees reiterated his commitment to &quot;resetting our relationship with our represented employees and continuing discussions with the union to reach a new agreement that is good for all of our teammates and our company as soon as possible.&quot;</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date September 18, 2024 12:55 EDT
  • Byline Agence France-Presse
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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