Friday, March 16, 2012

Boeing has started meeting with Wichita employees to discuss their possible options with the company. Those options range from transfers elsewhere to early retirement.

These are critical discussions in the lives of many Wichita-area families. About 2,100 employees remain at Boeing's Wichita site. Boeing announced earlier this year that they plan to close the Wichita facilities by the end of 2013.

Boeing's stated plans include moving much of the engineering and logistics work from Wichita to Oklahoma City and modification work to San Antonio. The KC-46 aerial refueling tanker work Wichitans hoped for instead will go to the Seattle area.

Engineer Eric Broadhead says many workers have known what their options were going to be so they weren't surprised when they got their papers.

"I've got my offer but I think it's going to be the same awhile longer. Six months, at least," said Broadhead.

Some employees left for the weekend with job offers in hand. Others continue to wait until Monday to hear from management whether they will get a transfer offer.