Boeing said furloughs began on Friday for thousands of employees in Washington State and Oregon, after more than 32,000 workers went on strike last week, halting production of the U.S. planemaker's best-selling 737 MAX and other jets.

Boeing employees still working received a notice on the furloughs Wednesday, which noted that it will encompass tens of thousands of nonunion employees for the duration of strike.

Boeing asked to include SPEEA employees in company-wide furloughs, despite a stipulation in the union contract that prevents them.