Reports: Boeing Plans to Move 787 Engineering Work to South Carolina

Boeing has told employees it plans to consolidate 787 engineering work in South Carolina as it ramps up production of its popular twin-aisle jet, the union representing its engineers said, according to Reuters.

Reuters reported the union said it would mean moving about 300 jobs from Washington state, where engineers are represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), to a non-union state.

The website Simple Flying reported that according to SPEEA, the move comes as Boeing pushes to significantly ramp up 787 production.

It reported that according to a SPEEA spokesperson, it isn't known if the decision will result in any layoffs in the Washington area, and the timeline for transferring engineering work over to North Charleston is also unclear.

The decision to move more work away from Washington state has concerned local leaders, and the lack of clarity from Boeing has exacerbated the situation, Simple Flying reported.

It said the move has angered local union leaders, who claim to have been blindsided by the manufacturer's decision.

It noted Boeing is in the process of constructing a second final assembly building at its South Carolina facility, which will help it meet its production target of ten aircraft per month.

It also said Boeing's Washington workforce oversaw a 4 percent decline last year, although the region is still the manufacturer's largest workforce base, with over 65,000 employees in the area.