An open letter to Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, County Executive John Lovick, Port Commissioner Troy McClellan, and various mayors,
I have no skin in the game as I have never worked for Boeing, but assuming that it provides the benefits to the community these leaders assert, it may because of the level of wages and benefits the workers now receive and the purchasing power they have in keeping all the good things afloat. I am not sure why the open letter seems to put the onus on machinists to make concessions in any further negotiations.
I assume everyone is happy right now as the malls are full, the roads are full, restaurants have waits, car sales show continual increases, RV sales have recovered to pre 2008 levels and the stock market is at all time high. Unless you want the machinists to take a disproportionate hit, of say 15 percent .,, to increase Boeing’s profit just to keep it here, maybe these community leaders could use their influence to urge all other businesses to drop their prices by 15 percent, including Boeing suppliers. That way machinists can continue to spread their money around and still buy a new boat and truck, instead of having to choose one or the other, or a hamburger and a latte.
If you ask the local labor to take less out of the cash flow of the airplane sales, that would mean we will have less money flowing around our county and cities and there should be a way of spreading that gain or pain to all merchants, both the remaining money and the penalty. Shouldn’t all share in the sacrifice to keep Boeing here?
Bill Severson
Stanwood
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
