Boeing offers buyouts to some St. Louis workers

ST. LOUIS - Chicago-based Boeing Co. is offering buyouts to some of its nonunion employees in the St. Louis region.

The company on Tuesday sent an email to 12,000 workers announcing that voluntary buyouts would be offered, although only a part of those employees will be eligible. Those who are eligible will receive invitations by Friday.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the eligible employees work in Missouri and Illinois.

The email says the buyouts are an effort to reduce costs in what the company called the "toughest business environment in a generation."

Tuesday's announcement doesn't affect union employees.

Boeing would not say how many employees it hopes will take the buyouts. The company employs about 15,000 people in the St. Louis region.