I’m amazed at local leaders’ blind faith in corporations. In a display of “loyalty,” Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson recently issued a public declaration that the city won’t seek to be the site of an Airbus air tanker factory.
Stephanson should take a page out of the Boeing play book and hedge his bets. Boeing has outsourced thousands of aerospace jobs in an effort to disperse its work force, spread risk among partners and capitalize on cheap foreign labor. This is a wise business strategy. Boeing didn’t want to put all its eggs in one basket, why should Everett?
I’ll bet the mayor of Wichita is making a pitch for an Airbus plant. Stephanson should pledge his loyalty to the local communities that have suffered the wild Boeing employment swings for decades. Did Boeing show loyalty when it moved to Chicago? If Boeing loses the tanker deal, will Mike Sears and Phil Condit come and apologize to Everett out of loyalty?
What did Stephanson get in return for his loyalty? The state of Washington had to buy Boeing’s loyalty with billions of dollars in tax breaks so they would continue to assemble the 787 here. The converted 747 large cargo freighter designed to transport the major pre-built 787 sections to Everett will be built in China. Where’s the loyalty in that?
Over the years the taxpayers of Washington have built communities, schools, roads, parks, universities, businesses, churches and infrastructure that have created a wonderful place to live, raise families and supply Boeing with a healthy stock of employees. Let’s just remember that those tax breaks apply to any aerospace company in Washington, including Airbus!
Brian Bodge
Mukilteo
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