Boeing is strategically moving approximately 250 C-17-related jobs in management, engineering, supply chain, finance, and contracts from Long Beach to various cities across the country. The goal of this relocation is to enhance collaboration with Boeing suppliers and customers and foster synergy with other Boeing locations.
Lynette McKinnon, an executive at Boeing, addressed the employees in an internal memo on August 29th, revealing that the positions will be transferred to cities such as San Antonio and Dallas in Texas, Mesa in Arizona, Oklahoma City, Warner Robbins in Georgia, and Fort Walton Beach in Florida.
The relocation process will be conducted in phases, starting in the third quarter of 2023 and finishing by early 2025.
Although the majority of C-17 workers will be relocated, approximately 450 employees associated with the design, development, procurement, and delivery of the aircraft’s flight deck modernization program will remain in Long Beach.
Barry Edwards, spokesman for Boeing Global Services, emphasized that the company’s analysis considered both Boeing’s interests and the well-being of its employees. The strategic mapping of workplaces aligned with the C-17 strategy and matched critical skills to business needs.
The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a large military transport aircraft developed by McDonnell Douglas and later merged with Boeing, has played a significant role in transporting troops and cargo worldwide. It has also been utilized for medical evacuations and air-drop operations. Notably, during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the C-17 served as a crucial logistical asset. Additionally, it has supported humanitarian aid efforts following natural disasters, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the recent 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake.
Although the first C-17 flew in September 1991, the development process faced challenges due to design issues, resulting in substantial financial losses. While the C-17 is no longer in production, Boeing continues to offer support for the existing aircraft.
A manager working on the C-17 program in Long Beach mentioned that Boeing still provides maintenance and repair services globally, with 275 C-17s currently in operation, including 222 in the United States and 53 stationed at foreign military bases.
Concerning the relocation, a worker from the C-17 division expressed her uncertainty about the future. She disclosed that her division would be relocated to Warner Robbins on January 21st but expressed a hope to secure another job with Boeing in Long Beach. She mentioned the availability of her 401(k) funds to support herself in case she doesn’t find immediate employment. With an annual salary of $100,000, she conveyed her sadness and heartbreak, expressing her love for the job and its contribution to supporting the troops.
Boeing is providing a severance package of one week’s pay for every year of service, up to a maximum of 26 weeks, to employees who are laid off due to the relocation and choose not to move. The company also mentioned that these employees may be eligible for COBRA health care coverage and will receive career transition support.
Currently, Boeing employs around 2,000 workers at its Long Beach facility, where it manufactures more than 20 military aircraft, in addition to planes designated for commercial use.
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