Published: Sunday, April 12, 2009
WASHINGTON'S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
We're in a race we must win
"Washington is not keeping its competitive edge in attracting and retaining the commercial aircraft industry."
That disheartening declaration, followed by the numbers to back it up, opens a new report commissioned by the Snohomish County Economic Development Council and paid for by the state. It should seize the attention of anyone who cares about our state's economic future -- especially those in a position to do something about it: state lawmakers and the union that represents most blue-collar workers at the Boeing Co.
The report by Deloitte Consulting recited the aerospace industry's foundational importance to the state economy ($36 billion in total annual impact, 8 percent of direct and indirect jobs, salaries that are more than double the average of all industries), as if we needed reminding. It noted that other states (South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas and Kansas were used for comparison) are working hard to supplant Washington as an aerospace leader, and finding some success.
It went on to identify what must be done to encourage existing aerospace companies to stay and grow in Washington, and others to come here.
Among the ideas we think require immediate action:
n The Legislature should adopt Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposal to create a state council to coordinate aerospace efforts. That council needs to unite business, labor and government in a seamless and ongoing effort to address issues of cost, education and training, research and development, and labor/management relations.
n Lawmakers must approve an update to state unemployment-insurance rules that passed the Senate last month. Attempts in the House to expand benefits would raise costs for employers and make Washington even less competitive than it already is for aerospace and other high-paying jobs.
n Labor, specifically the Machinists Union, needs to understand that the bad blood between it and Boeing may be the biggest single obstacle to keeping thousands of aerospace jobs here for the long haul.
Strife that has resulted in three Machinists strikes over the last six contracts isn't all the union's fault, but it's hard to overlook the fact that Boeing's other unions don't share such a bitter history.
We've seen reason for hope recently, though. The Machinists lobbied hard against the Air Force's decision to award its big tanker contract to the Northrop/Airbus consortium, helping to get Boeing back in that contest. And we were encouraged by the comments of Larry Brown, legislative director for the Aerospace Machinists Local 751, who said in an article Friday, "(Workers) have proven they are tough enough to stand up to Boeing. Now we have to prove we are smart enough to make this work."
We wish them, and legislative leaders, nothing but success on that score.
That disheartening declaration, followed by the numbers to back it up, opens a new report commissioned by the Snohomish County Economic Development Council and paid for by the state. It should seize the attention of anyone who cares about our state's economic future -- especially those in a position to do something about it: state lawmakers and the union that represents most blue-collar workers at the Boeing Co.
The report by Deloitte Consulting recited the aerospace industry's foundational importance to the state economy ($36 billion in total annual impact, 8 percent of direct and indirect jobs, salaries that are more than double the average of all industries), as if we needed reminding. It noted that other states (South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas and Kansas were used for comparison) are working hard to supplant Washington as an aerospace leader, and finding some success.
It went on to identify what must be done to encourage existing aerospace companies to stay and grow in Washington, and others to come here.
Among the ideas we think require immediate action:
n The Legislature should adopt Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposal to create a state council to coordinate aerospace efforts. That council needs to unite business, labor and government in a seamless and ongoing effort to address issues of cost, education and training, research and development, and labor/management relations.
n Lawmakers must approve an update to state unemployment-insurance rules that passed the Senate last month. Attempts in the House to expand benefits would raise costs for employers and make Washington even less competitive than it already is for aerospace and other high-paying jobs.
n Labor, specifically the Machinists Union, needs to understand that the bad blood between it and Boeing may be the biggest single obstacle to keeping thousands of aerospace jobs here for the long haul.
Strife that has resulted in three Machinists strikes over the last six contracts isn't all the union's fault, but it's hard to overlook the fact that Boeing's other unions don't share such a bitter history.
We've seen reason for hope recently, though. The Machinists lobbied hard against the Air Force's decision to award its big tanker contract to the Northrop/Airbus consortium, helping to get Boeing back in that contest. And we were encouraged by the comments of Larry Brown, legislative director for the Aerospace Machinists Local 751, who said in an article Friday, "(Workers) have proven they are tough enough to stand up to Boeing. Now we have to prove we are smart enough to make this work."
We wish them, and legislative leaders, nothing but success on that score.
Comments
(