Boeing, Machinists have obligation to community to try more talks, Inslee says

Published 12:12 pm Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Rep. Jay Inslee has joined the effort by Washington state politicians to force the Boeing Co. and its Machinists back into talks over Boeing’s second 787 line.

“It is my belief that both parties have an obligation to the community at large to leave no stone unturned in this regard,” Inslee wrote in a letter to Boeing’s Tim Keating and the Machinists’ Rich Michalski.

The communities of Washington state and its people will be affected by Boeing’s decision, Inslee said. The state, counties and cities “have all contributed to the Boeing endeavor by means of massive tax breaks, infrastructure development, job training and politicial support for decades,” he wrote.

Washington offered more than $3 billion in incentives to Boeing and aerospace companies in 2003 in order to land the first 787 production line.

“The community fairly expects some effort by both parties to engage some third party,” Inslee said.

Sen. Patty Murray contacted both the Machinists and Boeing this morning offering to facilitate further discussions.

Boeing spokesman Tim Healy said today that the company has what it needs to make its decision between Everett and Charleston, S.C.

South Carolina lawmakers are expected to pass tax incentives aimed at Boeing during a special session today and send that bill to the governor shortly.