When right-wing anti-labor ideology infects corporate governance, money gets wasted. The 787 story should serve as a cautionary tale about how NOT to run a business, but because local unionized workers have bailed out that dog's breakfast of a Frankenliner, the company continues to make money and executives walk away unscathed... even rewarded. Boeing has wasted billions farming out its engineering and manufacturing, and now they stand to waste untold more trying to replace unionized workers with cheaper, non-union ones. I, for one, don't want to fly in an airplane made on the cheap.
I always thought that corporate executives were essentially greedy bastards at heart, but apparently I was wrong. Boeing executives selflessly gave up their shareholders money to the cause of ensuring that their workers could fully experience low wages and long hours.
The only reason the Machinists endorsed McGinn is because Murray is a threat to Boeing's profits vis property/B&O taxes, because of his connections with the State. McGinn is no threat to Boeing, because he is isolated and malleable. The IAM does what is best for business, and Boeing tells them what is best for business.
Boeing workers here in Washington are the best industrial workforce in the history of the world. Boeing management used to be among the best, too -- but since the McDonnell-Douglas takeover and the move to Chicago, they've gone straight down the toilet. Now they're just another incompetent company like all the rest. It's sad for an old Boeing watcher to see.
It was fascinating to hear on the radio this morning, though, about their super-high-tech 787 Operations Center here at Everett. They monitor the flights of every one of the 80-odd planes in the world, 30 of which are in the air at any given moment. Everything about them. The coolest thing is, if there is any kind of a problem, they can have the required part on the ground waiting at the destination airport, anywhere, before it gets there. That's a pretty impressive level of post-sales commitment.
Just because Seattle can staple on luggage racks, and connect wiring harnesses better than South Carolina is no reason to turn cartwheels, although it certainly speaks about the SC Board of Education.
I was talking recently with a Boeing employee - on the plane, no less - who had been sent to SC to train the SC workers. Again. He expressed major concern about the quality of the work coming from the SC plant, and that he would not want his family flying on those planes. He had enough anecdotes about the crap going on down there that he scared the crap out of me.
The Boeing Family is from Detroit. I'm sure the original family is turning over in their graves knowing they moved headquarters to Chicago. Why not move it back to Detroit? Help out the city and the country. They know how to work hard in Detroit, unfortunately all their jobs went to China and Mexico instead. When China starts making airplanes. I quit flying.
http://www.salon.com/2013/07/18/ayn_rand….
Or maybe it was illegal in our country's recent past, but isn't illegal now? Because that's not a 'free-market' decision, that's a political decision.
It was fascinating to hear on the radio this morning, though, about their super-high-tech 787 Operations Center here at Everett. They monitor the flights of every one of the 80-odd planes in the world, 30 of which are in the air at any given moment. Everything about them. The coolest thing is, if there is any kind of a problem, they can have the required part on the ground waiting at the destination airport, anywhere, before it gets there. That's a pretty impressive level of post-sales commitment.
I, for one, will welcome our new Airbus overlords.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27kDtIoL1…
Boeing only assembles plants in both places.
Just because Seattle can staple on luggage racks, and connect wiring harnesses better than South Carolina is no reason to turn cartwheels, although it certainly speaks about the SC Board of Education.
But try making an engine sometime.
Yes, America's 3rd most productive agricultural region.
Thanks a lot Boeing.
(Seriously, can you imagine what the Duwamish Valley must have been like in its pristine condition.)