Brad Shannon

Brad Shannon:
The Politics Blog

Brad Shannon maintains this blog. He is political editor at The Olympian and can be reached at 360-753-1688 or bshannon@theolympian.com.

Gregoire: state did what it could for Boeing 787

• Published October 28, 2009

So it's official now. Boeing will build its second production line in South Carolina for the 787 Dreamliner jet, and fingers no doubt will point at the state's business climate and the threat of Machinists’ strikes.

Gov. Chris Gregoire put this can't-win-them-all face on the news with this statement:

"This is obviously a very disappointing day for all Washingtonians, particularly the more than 73,000 Boeing workers in our state. We did all we could to demonstrate that Washington is the best place in America to build airplanes. State and local government worked hand in hand with our capable Congressional delegation, business and community leaders, educators and countless others to show our collective support for locating the second 787 assembly line here. "Unfortunately, the active and intense discussions between Boeing and the Machinists union did not result in an agreement acceptable to both sides. My colleagues in the Congressional delegation and I worked tirelessly to urge an agreement if at all possible; ultimately the two sides could not come together. "We must keep in mind that the first and best 787s will be build right here. We have over 80,000 aerospace jobs in Washington, all of which are in a dynamic and highly competitive industry. There will be other competitions to come – the tanker is next and we intend to win. We cannot soften our resolve to stay as good as we can possibly be, in order to be ready for future competitions. "We may not build every single Boeing aircraft in Washington, but Washington will continue to remain the home of the best workers building the best airplanes for the next 100 years. "I want to thank our congressional delegation, local leaders and our regional and statewide business and labor communities for all of the work they put into this effort. This spirit will serve us well in future efforts to both grow our current companies and locate new businesses in Washington."

The Association of Washington Business put out this statement

OLYMPIA— Association of Washington Business President Don Brunell said today's announcement that Boeing will locate a second 787 production line in South Carolina is disappointing and should steel Washington's resolve to strengthen our state’s competitiveness so we can further recruit and retain existing family-wage jobs in our state. Brunell said AWB and its 6,800+ members will continue to work to make Washington an attractive place in which to invest, raise a family and work. "Boeing’s decision underscores the changing landscape of today's worldwide business climate. We are fortunate to have such strong aerospace and manufacturing sectors in our state, but that base is always at risk in this fluid global economy," said Brunell. "It is imperative that we redouble our efforts to lure new production lines and other companies to Washington and we will continue to do our part to make sure that happens."

Click here for the earlier post that rounded up reactions to news that Boeing likely would build its production line in North Charleston, S.C.

Here are a few other statements that have come in. First, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who had led efforts over the weekend to get unions and Boeing to talk:

"This is a disappointing moment for our state and for Boeing customers. "We had an opportunity today to take a step toward workforce stability and a win for Boeing, our workers, and the state of Washington. I am disappointed that Boeing cut off negotiations and passed on a final chance to make this happen. "This state’s workers, communities and elected officials have worked hand in hand with Boeing for nearly 100 years to build the best aerospace workforce and the best business environment possible. "Even when they moved headquarters to Chicago, Boeing’s Washington workforce remained dedicated to the quality product they make. "Now, Boeing has decided to take their second 787 line to South Carolina. It's a shortsighted decision. "Washington state has fought for Boeing from day one. The dedication and quality of product Washington state provides is not something you can build overnight. The passion and history of grandparents passing knowledge, know-how and skills to the next generation is not something that can be reflected on balance sheets. "What the Company has neglected to account for is the quality and well-trained workforce that they already have in Everett. "I don’t take that workforce or that product for granted and neither does our state. "There are over 80,000 good-paying aerospace jobs in the state of Washington. I will continue to work as I always have to invest in that workforce and in the infrastructure and economic development that will keep Washington state on the map as the world’s aerospace capital for generations to come."

State Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla and leader of the Senate Republicans:

"Although today’s announcement was the blow we hoped would not come, it is also a call to action. The next battle starts today, right now. We must do everything we can to retain the 737 line and keep all present and future aerospace jobs in Washington. Today we lost thousands of jobs. We cannot afford to lose thousands more. "Tom Captain, vice chairman and an aerospace expert at Deloitte LLP, recently pointed out that Washington has lost all five of the latest major competitions to attract aerospace jobs. With today's announcement we’re zero for six – not exactly the makings of a championship season. On top of that we’re now faced with a brand-new challenge: the aerospace sector will have a large, active, trained workforce elsewhere in the country. It’s time to stop resting on general business rankings from out-of-state groups that tout what a great place Washington is for business. Those who actually make decisions to site aerospace jobs obviously do not agree. "Washington must be leaner and meaner if we’re going to compete in this global economy. One of the ways we can do that is by taking a long, hard look at the Deloitte report released this past spring. It focuses specifically on what our state needs to do to be more competitive in the aerospace sector – an industry that accounts for more than 36 billion dollars in our state’s economy. One of the most important things we must do is reform workers’ compensation, which the Deloitte reports calls 'one of the most expensive workers’ compensation systems in the country.' I stand ready to work with my colleagues and the governor to enact those critical changes that will help us compete for jobs. "Today's news is tough medicine, but it's something we should face together with a strong determination not to let it happen again. Other states and other countries are competing very hard to attract employers. Let’s roll up our sleeves, work together and fight to keep every current and future job, not just in aerospace but in every sector, in Washington."

State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane:

"I am deeply disappointed in today’s announcement. I had great hope that Boeing, in the end, would decide to keep the second line of the 787 here in Washington. "I'm especially disappointed that the decision was made at a level that we could not influence locally. In the Senate, we wanted to keep 787 here at home – we worked with both sides and saw strong local interest from local Boeing leaders and employees to keep the 787 here at home – but the decision was made far away, and, very unfortunately, we were unable to affect it here at home. "I'm proud of our state. I continue to believe Washington offers a far more skilled and experienced workforce, far more competitive infrastructure, and a far more committed Legislature and governor than does South Carolina. I continue to believe that Boeing and the 787 are positioned most competitively right here in Washington. "And while, sadly, some may use today's disappointing announcement to score political points, Washington residents can be proud that their state remains a great place to do business according to almost every objective analysis, including those performed by national publications such as Forbes and U.S. News & World Report. "I know that local Boeing leaders and the Machinists remain committed to Washington. Boeing is still the largest private employer in the state, and there remains plenty of work on the 737, the 777, the first line of the 787 and, we hope, the 767 tanker for the tens of thousands of Boeing employees in the state. "We will continue to work together and identify ways to control our own destiny here in Washington in the future."

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Seattle:

SEATTLE, WA – Today, John Diamond, Communications Director for U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement following the decision made today by the Boeing Company to build a second 787 line in Charleston, South Carolina: "Senator Cantwell received a call at 4:30 p.m. today from Jim Albaugh, President of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, that a decision was to be announced moving the second line of the Boeing 787 to South Carolina and that production would not take place until 2013. "Albaugh said this would mean no immediate jobs lost in Puget Sound and that ultimately it would produce more jobs in the Northwest. "Senator Cantwell expressed concern and disappointment about the loss of a second line in Puget Sound. And she expressed concern about Boeing’s continued business loss and the potential risk of starting up a second line in South Carolina, a state with limited aerospace engineering experience."

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, said this:

"I am extremely disappointed that Boeing decided to locate the second production line for the 787 outside of Washington state. This development will have a negative impact on Washington and its workers and will send a substantial number of jobs and economic activity away from the state. "Throughout the years Washington state and its workers have provided Boeing with the incentives, support, and high-quality workers that have allowed it to become one of the world’s leading aerospace companies. Given this history and all that Washington state has to offer, it is extremely disappointing to see them push aside our workers and develop the second plant outside of the state. "I hope that this decision does not represent a larger shift in the company’s approach to doing business and that future Boeing decisions are based on the uniquely strong business environment and highly skilled, quality workers in Washington state. "I will continue to work with leaders in the congressional delegation and around the state to encourage economic growth in Washington and support workers and businesses as they strive to be industry leaders."


That's it for now.

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