Seattlest Pix 09Nov24
Tuesdays are Muppet Days
Seattlest Pix 09Nov23
Can't Miss It: Monday
Thanksgiving Pairing Suggestion: Sides with a Pint
So Boeing is "in talks" to buy the a South Carolina factory that currently makes sections of the 787 (huh, that's funny, the autotext is "long-delayed 787") fuselage, which has sparked rumors that the plane-maker is thinking about, in the words of Billy Joel, "movin' out." Anti-union business interests blame...the devil union. Jon Talton focuses on a huge Southern sucking sound. And Rick Anderson points out that the state gets advice from Deloitte Consulting on how to keep Boeing, while Deloitte & Touche does Boeing's books--this is okay because they are "separate but affiliated" entities. We are not Boeing experts by any means, but this is what we see: a) low labor costs alone don't build a plane that flies, b) Boeing's future requires a more highly trained and skilled work force than ever before, and c) we haven't noticed Boeing crowing lately about any profits generated by moving its corporate HQ to Chicago.
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In Woodinville there's a hole-in-the-wall charcuterie named Bill The Butcher which has the most outl
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Bad news, or perhaps part of the bluff: I just received an e-mail from Boeing letting me know that an engineering job I had applied for has been cancelled. I went back to their site to see if other jobs are available (there used to be a handful), and found absolutely no engineering jobs posted for Washington.
I know Boeing seems to make threats all the time, but this one is serious. Can you imagine Washington without Boeing? Because that's what could happen.
The union is going to have make serious concessions to get the company to stay -- and that's going to be difficult. And the company surely will have to offer something to the union as well.
But the entire state needs to also step up -- not just labor but our politicians and community leaders. Now is the time to keep one of our state's oldest and most important businesses.
Hmmmm... Wonder what would happen to a state/city whose economic backbone was first built around a massive transportation industry? Just ask the Detroit auto unions, I'm sure they'll be able to tell you how it all works out in the end.