Boeing Layoffs

Jan. 20-Layoff notices went out Friday to Boeing-Wichita workers and there could be more cuts to come this year.

Boeing Wichita is competing for more military work.

But the company finds itself fighting for dollars the pentagon wants to spend elsewhere.

As one expert tells us, it's like hand to hand combat.

"I think just a little downturn. It's typical modification."

Employees hope it's just a little downturn.

Eighty four got 60 day layoff notices.

Last Friday was the last work day for 250 who got notices in November.

It has some Boeing employees wondering how safe their jobs are.

"Hard telling how long it'll last."

Boeing spokesman Forrest Gossett says the company's seen some rapid changes the last eight weeks with some military programs delayed, some cancelled.

He says cuts have come to mechanics and people working in the technical publications group.

Boeing management finds itself monitoring the Department of Defense budget which is coming under increased pressure.

"There's a certain game being played. The military prioritizes it's requests for cash for new programs, say fighters, and things like that at the expense of legacy products like the B-52 and the KC-135.

Gossett says the military will spend its money first on things that shoot before it spends on things which enables the fighters like refueling tankers.

That makes it tougher on the Wichita facility which finds itself often working on the older legacy programs.

And as a military facility, Boeing-Wichita is going to have to battle for the defense bucks.

"It's going to be hand to hand combat because ultimately with the military that's going to require priority cash for new programs. It's up to Congress to go to bat for its constituencies and find cash for these programs that are under the gun."

What's different now, since Boeing divested itself of the commercial plant, is Boeing can't move people between the commercial and military sides any longer depending on where the needs are.

That luxury went away with the plant sale to Onex.