Boeing Is Calling Back Its Retirees To Try To Fix Delays At Its 737 Jetliner Plant (cnbc.com)

Boeing is trying to fix delays at its 737 jetliner plant near Seattle, so it's turning to its retired workers. "Boeing started hiring retired mechanics and inspectors on a temporary basis after reaching an agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on August 15," reports CNBC. From the report: The snarl at its plant in Renton, Washington, triggered by shortages of engines and fuselages as Boeing sped production to record levels in June, is likely to hurt third-quarter results and threatens its goal to boost build rates again in 2019, some analysts said after meetings in the Seattle area last week. Investors will get a peek on Tuesday at how far behind Boeing is when it releases its order and delivery tallies for August, a month after deliveries fell to the lowest level in years. Deliveries are crucial to planemakers because that is when airlines pay most of what they owe for the aircraft. Boeing has already deployed about 600 employees and new hires to Renton in recent weeks to help fix delays, analysts said. It was not clear how many retired workers Boeing intends to hire.

Comments

Retired?

[reanjr]

Were they retired workers or were they "retired" workers. Is retiring something the workers did or was it something that happened to them?

Re:Retired?

[gymbrown]

I worked for Boeing for almost 30 years but had to retire because my wife was extremely ill. She required constant care for 6 months. After around 6 months she was recovered enough I could have gone back to work and got a call from Boeing asking me to come back for an interesting software job. If it wasn't for the fact that we were having fun and investments were going well, I would have gone back. We all have different reasons for retirement and may want to go back to work for the company we left. Most retired Boeing employees have a good relation-ship with Boeing and would return if there is a need. If my health would per-mit it, I would go back.

Re:Boeing Boeing Gone

[Freischutz]

I thought Boeing was moving out of Seattle. So I guess there won't be another generation of aviation workers there after they use these oldsters up.

That's just it, the company has been rather foolish in the way it's been handling production for quite some time now. And shockingly, providing bonuses for the half-assed work being done in North Carolina is having consequences.

It's beyond me why any of these people aren't looking for work elsewhere as it's clear that Boeing only cares about money and can't be bothered to think about the long term.

Heard that bit about the shoddy work too. The local airline bought a bunch of Boeings including some 787s and specified in the contract that they should be made in Seattle because they do better work and our airline is not alone in this. I have heard of other airlines refusing to accept aircraft made in other factories than the ones in Washington state, except I think the factory causing the problems was Charleston IIRC which is in South Carolina. If this is true Boeing would not be shooting themselves in the foot if they close down the facilities in Washington state, they'd be shooting their foot clean off.

Re:

[The Grim Reefer]

Just think about the money they could save if they could resurrect the dead

I saw that movie. It doesn't turn out well.