The Boeing Union just refused to capitulate and find themselves, and hundreds of people in the region, out of a job.
Murray is so out of touch.
Business News
Second 787 line going to South Carolina
KING5.com Staff
Posted on October 28, 2009 at 12:52 PM
SEATTLE – Boeing announced Tuesday it will put its second 787 Dreamliner assembly plant in Charleston, S.C., a major blow to Everett, Wash. where the first 787 line is located.
"Establishing a second 787 assembly line in Charleston will expand our production capability to meet the market demand for the airplane," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes in a statement. "This decision allows us to continue building on the synergies we have established in South Carolina with Boeing Charleston and Global Aeronautica."
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon's office says it was informed by Boeing Tuesday afternoon.
"The Boeing Company's announcement to locate a second 787 line in North Charleston, S.C., signals that other states want what we have - a strong manufacturing base. We must all work together and fight to keep it. Washington state must make a conscious decision to do whatever is reasonably necessary to aggressively compete to keep the jobs we have and grow our economy or risk more losses," said Reardon in a statement.
The decision comes after secret talks in which Boeing and its Machinists union tried to hammer out a no-strike contract that could have ensured assembly of the long-delayed airliner would be exclusive to the Pacific Northwest.
After the talks broke down, there was a last-ditch attempt by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., to get the two sides to come together. That effort failed.
"I am most disappointed because I really believed that the two sides could have come together and had a good deal for Boeing and the Pacific Northwest and, unfortunately, can't reach that now," said Murray.
Murray told KING 5 News she believed the two sides were just a "stone's throw apart in providing some real job stability.
"I just believe that there was a Boeing corporate decision that moved forward, even without, with not getting an agreement they thought was perfect and they made the decision," said Murray.
"The loss of the second line of the 787 will most certainly result in finger pointing. I urge all parties to resist that temptation as it is counterproductive and does nothing to further our objective to be the most competitive state in the country," said Reardon.
Albaugh said, despite the decision, the company remains committed to the Puget Sound region.
"While we welcome the development of this expanded capability at Boeing Charleston, the Puget Sound region is the headquarters of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Everett will continue to design and produce airplanes, including the 787, and there is tremendous opportunity for our current and future products here," Albaugh said.
"It hurts all of us," said Murray. "I grew up, like many people did, believing that Boeing was ours, the Pacific Northwest's and that we were all family, so it's hard to watch when you see something like this happen."
Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to respond to the news at 2:45 p.m.
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