SEATTLE, Wash. – Machinists are back at work on the Boeing assembly line after a 53-day strike. The return comes as Boeing works to address a backlog of plane orders.
The machinists had been on strike due to a contract holdout. Now, with a deal reached, they are back on the clock.
Aviation company Avia Solutions Group has placed an order for four 737 Max jets, with the potential to add 40 more. This marks Boeing’s first order since the strike began. However, this order will not be processed until Boeing delivers the 6,000 jets currently in its backlog.
Boeing has delivered fewer than 300 jets this year. The company is estimated to be $50 billion in debt.
Layoffs are expected by the end of the week. Boeing plans to cut about 17,000 employees, or roughly 10% of its global workforce.
