SPEEA Calls Boeing's Bidding Process for 7E7 Work
'Misguided'
After taking assistance from cities and states
where its factories have been located for more than 80 years, The
Boeing Company is turning its back on communities by setting up a
bidding process to choose the location for its new 7E7 plant,
according to the union representing technical workers at the
aerospace giant.
The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace
(SPEEA) IFPTE Local 2001, AFL-CIO, now the largest union
representing Boeing workers in the Puget Sound region, said the
bidding process announced this week disregards years of
contributions by employees and whole communities like Renton,
Seattle, Everett and Auburn (WA), and Wichita (KS). In many cases,
communities and states have worked hand-in-hand with Boeing for
decades.
That was then. This is now. As municipal gravy trains dry up in
used-up communities, Boeing looks for fresh ground to plow.
"This is a slap in the face of everyone who has worked and
supported Boeing for decades," said Pat Waters, SPEEA Council
Chairman. "Now, The Boeing Company is saying all that work, all the
help over the years, doesn't matter. We are taking a stand now, not
to hurt Boeing, but to help save Boeing from misguided
management."
'Bidding' out in the open, now...
Rumors of Boeing's using a bidding process to
parcel out 7E7 work have been heard for months. On Monday, Boeing
officials said publicly they will soon lay out "requirements for
building the new airplane in Washington." A similar announcement
was made in Wichita. Last week Boeing informed Kansas state
officials the company wanted $500 million in tax incentives and
other government contributions before committing to send 7E7 work
there.
"It's very distasteful that the largest aerospace firm in the
world would use these tactics," said Charles Bofferding, executive
director of SPEEA, IFPTE Local 2001. "There seems to be no
appreciation for everything the communities and their residents
have done for this company." Boeing has long enjoyed special
treatment from many communities, with non-Boeing employees' in
effect subsidizing their higher-wage Boeing neighbors. Discounts in
water, trash, electricity, property tax; and special treatment in
the granting of zoning, parking, and runoff variances, are a way of
life in Boeing's towns. As those towns tire of the endless demands,
it's no wonder that Boeing is apparently shopping around for better
deals elsewhere. It's no different from sports franchises' looking
for the best new free stadium...
It's not been graceful.
In the past 18 months, the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company
has laid off more than 31,000 workers. The company plans to cut
4,000 more employees before the end of the year. The aerospace
layoffs have helped make the unemployment rates in Washington and
Kansas among the highest in the nation.
Boeing
set up a bidding war among Dallas, Denver and Chicago when it
shopped for a new location for its corporate headquarters two years
ago. The company picked Mayor Daley's Chicago after the state of
Illinois offered $54 million and other benefits, (many of which
Boeing later said were, to the company, irrelevant; yet they cost
the taxpayers the full amount of the politicians' giveaways).
According to Bofferding, many workers declined invitations to
follow their jobs to the new location.
Union leaders point out moving executive offices is simple
compared to moving the equipment used by engineers, technical
workers and skilled mechanics to design and build today's
commercial aircraft. In addition, any area looking to attract work
on the next generation of commercial aircraft also needs to provide
thousands of skilled and experienced aerospace workers. Boeing
knows this; its labor costs are apparently high enough that it's
willing to make the move.
"Boeing has to realize the employees are part of what makes
Boeing aircraft great," said Jennifer MacKay, president of SPEEA,
IFPTE Local 2001. "This is a company that has made many commitments
to factories, communities and workers overseas. Why don't they
start making that same commitment to their workers at existing
faculties? To focus on costs to the exclusion of the impact on
employee morale and productivity is short-sighted and
misguided."
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.15.24)
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