Boeing Warns of 2,400 Layoffs

Aviation giant Boeing Co. says it is likely to lay off nearly 2,400 workers the next two months, in part because of defense spending cutbacks.

Most of the notices went to workers in Puget Sound plants. Others were split between a parts plant in Portland, Ore., and Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, said spokesman Russ Young.

Boeing said Friday that the notices warned the 2,400 employees that unless new positions could be found in the company, they would probably be out of work in 60 days.

“The reduction is part of the overall defense cutbacks and planned cutbacks in the production rate of the 737,” said Boeing spokeswoman Sherry Nebel.

Nebel said the layoffs were due mainly to the cancellation of the rail-based Garrison missile program, the SRAM-II short-range attack missile program and intercontinental ballistic missile projects.

Reduction in the B-2 bomber program and a reduction in 737 airliner production from 21 to 14 aircraft a month contributed to the layoffs, Nebel said.

Boeing announced last month that it expected to reduce its work force this year by 6,500 in the Seattle area and by 1,500 in Wichita, Kan.