Spirit AeroSystems responds to Boeing strike

10 September 2008

Spirit AeroSystems has announced that it will take ''immediate action'' to cut production volumes on Boeing products, as a response to the strike by 27,000 machinists belonging to the International Association of Machinists (IAM).

The strike has impacted production across several factories, specially in the Seattle area in the US, with economists warning that it may even impact the local economy of the area.

Talks between the Boeing Company and IAM, its largest union, ended in failure, resulting in over 27,000 Boeing workers commencing a strike action that is likely to cost the US aerospace giant $100 million a day in lost revenue. 

Boeing's production lines for its 737, 747 and 777 family of aircraft have come to a halt even it, one of the world's biggest manufacturer of commercial aircraft, struggles to meet a record backlog of orders worth $275 billion.

The Wichita, Kansas based company said that it will implement a revised production and delivery schedule utilising a reduced work week for employees who support, manufacture and assemble the affected products.

''We are working closely with our customer and taking the necessary steps as we respond to an unfortunate situation,'' said President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Turner.