Story Published:
Aug 3, 2009 at 6:27 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Aug 3, 2009 at 6:27 PM PDT
A new Boeing sign is unveiled at the former Vought Aircraft Industries building in Charleston, South Carolina.
LYNNWOOD, Wash. -- There is a new union challenge facing Boeing. The company just bought and took over South Carolina's Vought Aircraft Industries, and now there is a movement to de-certify the union there.
In Charleston, a new Boeing sign means the company owns a new plant. Workers there already make sections of the 787 fuselage, and now some machinists there want to dump the union.
Back here in Seattle, machinists say don't look for any decertification here. But past strikes in Seattle make everyone nervous for Boeing's future in this state.
"The Hatfields and the McCoys have to stop feuding," said Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash) who was one of many officials attending an aerospace summit in Lynnwood Monday.
Dicks has watched that Boeing and union feud for decades.
"A 20-year pattern of labor disputes and strikes is a damaging one and both Boeing management and the union have a responsibility to change it," said Fred Kiga with Boeing.
The strikes make it hard for Boeing to land new customers and for our state to keep and land new production lines.
Right now, Everett is one of several locations being considered for a second production line for the Dreamliner. There's been talk about that new line going to Charleston, but leaders here want that talk to end with the sign.
"I think it's safe to say that we... fundamentally agree that's as far as we want South Carolina to go, with the Boeing Company and those jobs," said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon.
The fact remains, the ongoing feud is bad for business.
"We cannot afford to be seen as an unreliable supplier if we want to stay in business in this extremely industry," Kiga said.
Both Boeing and the Machinists say they are working toward resolution.
Cities in Texas and California are also said to be in the running for the second 787 production line.