Boeing Takes Second 787 Line to Charleston

After a day in meetings, I'm late posting this. Most WashACE readers know that Boeing announced earlier today that it would locate the second 787 production line in Charleston, South Carolina.

We'll have more on this from a WashACE perspective later. For now, here's a brief roundup of reactions.

First, the governor. 

This is obviously a very disappointing day for all Washingtonians, particularly the more than 73,000 Boeing workers in our state.

From AWB president Don Brunell:

Boeing's decision underscores the changing landscape of today's worldwide business climate. We are fortunate to have such strong aerospace and manufacturing sectors in our state, but that base is always at risk in this fluid global economy.

From Washington Roundtable president Steve Mullin:

Washington state faces an important challenge.  We need to work even harder to make the changes necessary to make our state more competitive, or we will lose more family wage jobs in today’s highly competitive global economy.

Here's the IAM perspective:

"Boeing's goal was not an agreement that would keep the work in Washington state," said IAM Vice President Rich Michalski. "Their goal was to run out the clock on a charade that included blaming their own workers for a decision to establish operations in yet another distant and high risk environment.

Bloomberg News has comments from both governors, labor and aerospace analysts.

SeattlePI.com offers a good roundup of reactions, including a forward-looking perspective from Snohomish County executive Aaron Reardon.

Reardon said: "We have to move forward ... there are still thousands of men and women who work for the company in this community."

Not just Boeing jobs are at stake in the future ... we have work to do.