Published June 2001

Boeing chooses Chicago; unions focus on building planes here

By Bryan Corliss
Herald Economy Writer

OK, so Boeing chose Chicago.

Now that the decision has been made, it’s back to business for the aerospace giant’s Puget Sound facilities.

As Boeing Chief Executive Phil Condit toured his new digs in the Windy City on May 10, unions for Boeing employees around Puget Sound said they plan to shift their focus to Boeing’s Commercial Airplane Group headquarters, which remains in Renton at the old Longacres site.

The Machinists union will focus its energy “building a relationship with Alan Mulaly, the new CEO of Commercial Airplanes, and ensure our members have jobs,” Machinists District President Mark Blondin said. “We hope to work with Boeing to keep building Boeing planes right here in Puget Sound, including the new Sonic Cruiser.”

In one respect, the Chicago announcement is a relief, said Bill Dugovich, spokesman for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace. “We certainly hope this frees up Commercial Airplanes to run their own operations.”

Short term, the move means nothing to Puget Sound, said Robert Toomey, a stock analyst with Dain Rauscher Wessels in Seattle. But long term, it’s a definite negative.

The move will insulate Boeing decision-makers from their employees, making it easier to move work or shut plants down.

“What makes the most economic sense? They’re going to look at that very hard,” Toomey said.

Snohomish County shouldn’t worry about losing its factory, he said. “The Everett plant, I think it’s fine. I don’t see anything happening there.” The 747 and 777 programs “have a good, long, healthy future.”

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