It should be noted that the Boeing Co. management agreement to the last three (more or less) union contracts have had major effects on our region.
1. These union contracts, along with actions by officials for the PUD, have resulted in a 42 percent increase in cost-of-living for all people within the county. It also served as a green light to the assessor to increase property assessed value.
2. These wage increases caused the increase in price of Boeing aircraft, which allows Airbus to sell their airplanes to many former Boeing customers. Based on newspaper articles, it appears that Airbus requires approximately one-third the number of employees to design and build a very similar aircraft.
3. When major assembly of Boeing aircraft is transferred to China, Mexico or perhaps the many vacant aircraft plants in Russia, the union people might be proud of their actions. It appears that assembly of aircraft in Russia can be accomplished with experienced people for less than $10 per labor hour and little or no government deductions.
Granite Falls
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
