Boeing Machinists plan tanker rally; EADS does, too

Published 12:54 pm Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Machinists, along with Washington politicians, will hold a rally Friday in support of the tanker Boeing is proposing to the Air Force.

Bids for the $35 billion aerial refueling tanker contest are due Friday.

Boeing’s main rival for the contract, EADS, will host its own rally on Monday in Mobile, Ala., where the European company would assemble its tanker, based on an Airbus A330 commercial jet. EADS is the parent company of Airbus.

Boeing will offer the Air Force a 767-based tanker. The company assembles its commercial 767 jet here in Everett.

The Machinists rally begins at 10:30 a.m., Friday, at the union hall, 8729 Airport Road, Everett .