Boeing's announcement that it will close its Milperra aerospace engineering site, costing up to 400 jobs, is a terrible blow to the workers and their families.

AMWU Acting State Secretary, Tim Ayres, said the decision would be felt not just by the Boeing workers but across the NSW economy.

“NSW simply cannot afford the loss of these skilled jobs at Boeing together with the thousands of downstream jobs that will be affected,” he said.

"The loss of Boeing to NSW is not just the closure of one site.   It is a massive loss to the entire aerospace industry in this state.”

The company manufactures aerospace components for the Boeing fleet, including the Boeing 737, Airbus, C130 Elevator, A330, A340 and A380 and the 777 Runner.

Mr Ayres said the AMWU has yet to see any detail on the planned closure, but he has been told the company will move the entire Milperra site to Fisherman’s Bend in Victoria.

“We know that the Victorian State Government invested $25 million, matching an equal investment from the federal Government to attract Boeing to Victoria,” he said.

Mr Ayres has written to the Premier of NSW, Kristina Keneally, seeking an urgent meeting to discuss what action may be taken to keep Boeing in NSW.

“The critical implication of today’s announcement presents a very real and immediate challenge to your Government’s ‘Jobs First’ strategy and the state’s ability to take advantage of the current economic recovery,” he wrote.

“The impact of the decision to close the Milperra site by Boeing will have massive ramifications for the state’s economy beyond the aerospace industry. The immediate loss of hundreds of highly skilled jobs, compounded by the loss of investment, Research and Development, and the potential for skills formation will affect the entire manufacturing industry.”