CONTRACT workers have been released at GKN in East Cowes — and additional cuts to the workforce cannot be ruled out.

The BBC reported two days ago that Boeing does not expect its 737 Max plane to fly before the summer, which is longer than initially expected.

The jet has been grounded since March 2019 after two fatal crashes, which killed 346 people.

The 737 Max project is what the contract losses have been attributed to.

There were 37 contractors let go at East Cowes.

A spokesperson for GKN said: “We have been working with our customer on an ongoing basis to address the challenging situation of the 737 MAX production suspension in order to minimise the impact on GKN Aerospace and our related workforce and suppliers.

"This impact is being managed on a site-by-site basis globally.

"At our East Cowes site, we have had to take the initial step of releasing contract workers on the programme to try to protect our permanent workforce.

"We are working hard to manage any further impact to the site through normal turnover of employees, but cannot rule out additional impact.

"It remains a key priority for GKN Aerospace to safeguard our capability, to support ramp up in volume at the appropriate time, when production resumes.”

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