Boeing Co. is requiring many salaried workers to take unpaid leave to preserve cash as the planemaker digs in for contentious contract talks with its largest union.

Boeing is furloughing tens of thousands of white-collar employees in an effort to cut costs and avoid a credit-rating cut in the midst of a strike by its largest union.The jet maker will furlough affected employees for one week out of every four weeks for the duration of the walkout,

Boeing’s CEO said Wednesday that the company will begin furloughing “a large number” of employees to conserve cash during the strike by union machinists

Boeing (BA) is making good on a threat to its workers made in light of its machinists’ strike. The company has begun furloughing workers as it faces a pause in production during the work stoppage.