The president of the machinists union in St. Louis says Boeing should build the 777X in Washington. And he’s angrily denying reports that his members would accept the Boeing contract recently rejected by Northwest machinists.
The Missouri Legislature is currently meeting in special session to consider a Boeing incentive package. This week, the Wall Street Journal’s aerospace reporter tweeted a claim by Republican lawmakers in Missouri. They said the state’s Gov. Jay Nixon had told them that Boeing machinists in St. Louis would accept a contract like the one Washington machinists soundly defeated last month. St. Louis machinists union president Gordon King says he saw a similar report on his local news.
“That is totally false. I have never spoke to the governor about that,” he said.
King says he would not even present to his members the contract Boeing offered machinists here. Not only that, he says the 777X should be built in Washington.
“My brothers and sisters in Seattle are the most qualified and experienced to perform that work,” King said.
King says if Boeing decides to go elsewhere, he’d like to see the work stay with the machinists and come to St. Louis. Missouri is one of more than a dozen states competing to land the 777X.
