More reaction to the Boeing announcement

Here’s what Rep. Cary Condotta has to say:

“Boeing’s recent announcement is a frank reminder that the economies of other states are much more competitive than Washington. Another warning flag went up this past legislative session when an independent study on the state’s aerospace industry competitiveness with other states cited several areas of concern, most notably high unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation taxes. The report also highlighted difficult labor relations that have led to further order delays and billions of dollars in lost revenue to the company.

“Boeing is simply looking for what so many other employers need in our state: a fair business and labor climate. Instead, we have incrementally pursued the so-called ‘progressive agenda.’ One only has to look as far as California or Michigan to see the results of such policy. It has failed everywhere it has been enacted. We must quickly change course or Boeing, Yahoo and others will change theirs.

“The bottom line is our region needs to retain and create new jobs. The best way to do this is to address employers’ needs. I will continue to join my fellow House Republicans in putting forward solutions for a better Washington, and we hope the governor and her party will finally embrace them.”

And after the jump is what Sen. Mike Hewitt thinks.

“Today’s announcement is not good news for the people of Washington, and represents another in a long line of warning signals the Legislature should be heeding about our state’s dismal business climate.

“A recent report on Washington’s competitiveness showed that two issues were very important to the aerospace industry – labor-management relations, and cost-related measures such as unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, taxes and other business costs.

“Four of the last seven labor negotiations at Boeing have resulted in a strike. Work stoppages over the past several years have cost Boeing nine billion dollars in revenue and two billion dollars in lost profits – and Washington had the most aerospace work stoppage days of any state in which the company does business. If labor-management relations is the industry’s number one concern, and the report says that it is, why wouldn’t Boeing look to expand elsewhere given this dismal record?

“Amazingly, on the business cost front, the Legislature made little to no progress this session on making our state more competitive. This happened despite lawmakers seeing the report that pointed out several areas where Washington just isn’t competitive, such as having one of the most expensive workers’ compensation systems in the country. Rather than address the problem, the Legislature went in the opposite direction with a myriad of business-busting bills tossed out at employers of all sizes. We even had to fight to get the most basic ‘do no harm’ change to unemployment insurance. The message this sent employers, including Boeing, could not have been worse – or more poorly timed, given how important it is to keep every job is right now.

“It’s time for lawmakers and others in a position of influence to wake up. We must do all we can to keep Boeing and the other aerospace jobs we do have – jobs that account for thirty-six billion dollars in economic value and represents 15 percent of our state’s economy.

“This is not a complicated issue. Washington must be competitive to keep jobs here – a fact that should concern every Washington worker in every industry. If we don’t make our state more attractive to employers, I fear we could see Boeing and other companies taking steps like the one we saw today – steps that could lead them right out of Washington.”

Tags: boeing