Fri, Sep 18, 2009
Invitation Planned For A Meeting Held Tuesday
Machinists union president Tom Buffenbarger said he planned to
invite President Barack Obama to come to Wichita and see first hand
what business aviation contributes to the U.S. economy when they
met on Tuesday. The meeting was scheduled during Obama's appearance
at the annual AFL-CIO meeting this week in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.
"My few moments with him are going to be about this industry,"
Buffenbarger told the Wichita Eagle Monday from the convention.
"Wichita is the aviation center of the universe."
Members of the machinists union have been working with other
aviation trade groups and local elected officials to try to
convince the President to experience first hand how the aviation
industry impacts the U.S. economy and national defense.
Buffenbarger said he hoped Obama would say a few positive words
about the benefits of business aviation, after the industry took
such a beating at the hands of congress following federal bailout
hearings. "Just maybe an encouraging word may be enough to stop the
slide we're in or slow it down and... maybe help it get to a
rebound a little quicker," he said.
Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna Aircraft and Bombardier Learjet have
cut production as customers canceled or deferred orders.
Collectively, they have laid off more than 12,000 people since
November, which has boosted unemployment in the city to almost 10
percent.
President Barack Obama
President Obama visited Elkhart, Indiana to talk about the
importance of the RV industry to the region, and the nation.
Wichita leaders are hopeful he'll do the same for business
aviation. City leaders sent a letter in March inviting Obama to
visit Wichita, and the City Council voted unanimously for a
resolution to that effect. Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer said he hoped
Buffenbarger would be successful in his request. "Maybe he can talk
him into it because I haven't been able to get him to do it."
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