Published: Wednesday, March 12, 2014, 8:05 p.m.
The report, which was released Tuesday, highlights the states considerable efforts but doesnt give any credit to the Machinists union, which actually ensured the new airplane will be assembled in Washington.
Boeing promised union members that if they passed a concession-laden contract, the 777X line and wing fabrication would be based here. Union members narrowly approved the contract in a Jan. 3 vote.
To be sure, the governor put in many long hours trying to land the 777X, including getting the Legislature to pass the countrys biggest corporate tax break and to allocate some money to workforce training, supporting streamlined permitting and essentially promising Boeing that the states water-quality standards wont be changed without the aerospace companys considerable input.
Well never know if those things alone would have been enough to land the 777X. Maybe Boeing was just bluffing and trying to get a better deal with the Machinists.
Inslee has repeatedly thanked the members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) who approved the contract. It was a bitterly emotional vote, and many members said they resented Inslee and other politicians for inserting themselves into the debate by calling for a second vote after local union leaders had rejected a revised Boeing offer.
Looking forward, the state has to focus on ensuring Boeing can smoothly expand facilities in Everett to make room for the 777X, states the governors progress report.
The report is based on the states five-year aerospace industry strategy, which Inslee unveiled last May.
Action items include building on the 777X siting decision by recruiting international companies to set up shop in Washington; help Spokane attract large-scale aerospace manufacturing; support research in advanced-materials manufacturing; pass a transportation-funding package that will among many things make it easier for goods and people to move around; and expand the aerospace business-and-occupation tax credit.
While the state won the 777X thanks to the Machinists union, lawmakers and the fact Everett was really the only place that made financial sense Washington came up short on two big items.
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