Boeing's CEO says it will start furloughing "a large number" of employees to conserve cash during the strike by union machinists that began last week​.

Boeing is temporarily furloughing executives and other nonunion workers to save cash during the strike by 33,000 members of the International Association of Machinists, CEO Kelly Ortberg told employees in an email Wednesday.

Boeing said on Wednesday it will temporarily furlough tens of thousands of employees after about 30,000 machinists went on strike on Friday, halting production of its 737 MAX and other airplanes. "We are initiating temporary furloughs over the coming days that will impact a large number of US-based executives,

Boeing is suspending the jobs of tens of thousands of staff in the US in response to a strike that has shut down production of some of its airplanes. The aerospace giant said US-based executives, managers and staff would be asked to take one week of furlough every four weeks as long as the stand-off lasts.

Contract talks between Boeing Co. and it’s largest union are set to continue on Wednesday after a first round overseen by a mediator left the labor side “frustrated.”

Federal mediators will help the aerospace manufacturer and leaders of the union representing more than 33,000 workers who went on strike last week reach a deal.