Boeing to lay off 141 workers in Florida

Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Boeing is laying off 141 workers at its Florida-based operations, including 26 at Kennedy Space Center, the Florida Department of Commerce has confirmed.

Boeing in October announced it would adjust its workforce as it struggled with financial difficulties, including the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halting production of the MAX 737 airliner, problems with the Starliner spacecraft and a machinists strike that lasted several weeks.

"We are adjusting our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and a more focused set of priorities," Boeing officials said in a statement to WESH. "We are committed to ensuring our employees have support during this challenging time."

In addition to workers at Kennedy Space Center, Boeing is laying off workers at its facilities in Cocoa Beach, Orlando, Titusville and Melbourne.

The workers subject to the Boeing layoffs in Florida will remain on the job until Jan. 17, when most of the layoffs take effect.

Boeing on Nov. 18 notified the state's Commerce Department in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requirements.

The WARN Act requires employers to give works at least a 60-day notice of pending closings and mass layoffs.

Boeing employs about 2,300 workers in Florida, so the layoffs affect about 6% of its Florida workforce.

Eligible workers will receive subsidized healthcare benefits for three months, severance pay and transition services that will help them qualify for new jobs.

The layoffs are part of a larger effort by Boeing to reduce its workforce by 10%, which in November announced it would lay off 17,000 employees.