Analyst: Labor, more than biz climate, key for Boeing in Wash.

Published 10:03 am Thursday, October 21, 2010

Workers’ compensation. Transportation. Tax incentives.

None of those issues are as important to keeping the Boeing Co. happy with Washington state as labor is, Scott Hamilton, with Leeham Co., told attendees at the governor’s aerospace summit this morning.

“The real work to be done right now is with labor,” he said.

A year ago, Boeing decided to place its second 787 line out of state after the company and its Machinists union failed to reach a long term labor contract.

Going forward, the relationships between Boeing and its unions will be key as the company determines where to place future work, Hamilton said.

Still, that doesn’t mean there isn’t work for the Legislature to do.

“We need to find more funding in January despite the budget crisis,” Hamilton said.

Funding for aerospace training and engineering education are important to the state’s aerospace industry.

Hamilton also suggested an emerging sector in aerospace that could be big for Washington state: cybersecurity.

Washington aerospace companies, such as the Boeing Co., are gearing up in the cyberspace industry, which creates an opportunity for the state, he said.

National defense analysts consider cybersecurity a top priority for the nation. And it will be a key priority for Washington, too.

“I believe the Legislature must find money to provide colleges to offer more cybersecurity courses and training,” Hamilton said.

The governor’s fourth annual aerospace conference is being held today at the Lynnwood Convention Center.