Spirit AeroSystems Seeks Voluntary Layoffs Among SPEEA Workers, Citing Pandemic, 737 Max

Citing the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the grounding of the 737 Max, Spirit AeroSystems sent some employees notices about voluntary layoffs on Friday.

“... Both led to reduced overall demand for new commercial airplanes,” the five-page notice says. “As a result, production rates for commercial aircraft have fallen from historic highs to much lower volumes.”

The voluntary layoff is available to employees represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace under the Wichita Technical and Professional Unit in “certain commercial” jobs. SPEEA also has a Wichita Engineering Unit that is not mentioned in the notice.

It was unclear how many employees are affected.

The announcement follows several months of layoffs and furloughs in Wichita’s aviation industry. The document further says there is “no expectation for a quick recovery.”

The announcement says that to be eligible, employees must submit a request form by July 24. Employees will be notified by July 29 if their request is approved and will have a final day no later than August 13.

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Spirit is Wichita’s largest employer and had 13,000 employees, according to the Greater Wichita Area Partnership, before announcing layoffs for 2,800 people in Wichita — representing more than one-fifth of its employees — in January.

More than half of Spirit’s revenue comes from the production of 737 aircraft components for Boeing. The 737 Max was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people.

Before the 737 Max was grounded, Spirit was in the midst of an economic boom. It had announced plans to add thousands of jobs and invest $1 billion in its Wichita factory.

The pandemic has since reduced flights around the world and, therefore, demand for new commercial planes.

Since the pandemic hit, Spirit and Textron Aviation, Wichita’s second-largest employer, have cut more than 2,000 positions and furloughed even more.

Spirit was working to respond to questions from The Eagle. SPEEA could not be reached for comment.

Contributing: Chance Swaim at The Eagle

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