As a somewhat typical Boeing employee, I am at a loss as to the underlying truth and facts concerning the loss of the second 787 line.

Well, after the decision was already made, all the union members I have had conversations with were just as “in the dark” as I was. The union officials say one thing and the company officials say another. I neither believe nor trust either of them. No union or company official ever asked our thoughts or expressed their positions to the average employee on the floor. I was as surprised as anyone that the decision was at hand.

Considering the company is ready to break ground in South Carolina for the new assembly line building suggests that they have had this issue decided for quite some time. You just don’t design a production line for cutting-edge airliners in two weeks. Another mystery is why you would spit in the eye of the workforce responsible for getting your new plane into the air before the end of the year. Perplexing to those of us who have been working week after week without a day off to help the company meet schedule.

As for the union, why meet and keep everything confidential when it angered the rank and file when you admitted to it during the last contract negotiations and gave the company three more days to negotiate before going on strike? Old habits die hard! And why adopt the failed tactics of the company with 11th hour negotiations when it is obvious that the cat is already out of the bag? Pure theater and posturing for public consumption.

As a result of all this maneuvering for position and finger-pointing, the average Boeing employee is completely out of the loop. We have as much control over the decisions involving company and union negotiations and decisions as a McDonald’s employee has over the late-night menu. We are only pawns in their high-stakes game!

Jack Allen

20-year Boeing employee

Mountlake Terrace