Jeff Merkley to Announce Plan to Save Boeing Jobs

House Speaker Jeff Merkley will announce a plan to reverse the U.S. Air Force tanker deal that could have created 225 jobs in Oregon tomorrow at noon at the Boeing manufacturing facility at 19000 NE Sandy Boulevard in Portland. Merkley will be joined by Scott Lucy, a leader of the Machinists Lodge 63 and the former chief shop Steward at the Boeing facility.

Earlier this month the U.S. Air Force awarded a contract for a nearly $40 billion Air Force tanker contract to a European plane maker instead of Boeing, costing Oregon 225 jobs and $8 million. [Sen. Patty Murray, http://murray.senate.gov/tankers/KC-767-EconomicImpact.pdf] Boeing was strongly favored to win the contract.

Gordon Smith cast the deciding vote for an amendment to encourage outsourcing by exempting the Department of Defense from the Buy American Act in 2003. The final vote in the U.S. Senate was 50-48. [Senate vote #191, 5/21/03] By voting against the amendment, Smith could have prevented family-wage jobs from being sent overseas.

Monday, March 17th
Noon
Boeing Manufacturing Facility
19000 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland

Posted March 16, 2008
Press