Talk show host just said Boeing plans to close Kansas factory

[Elwood P Dowd]

that employs over 30,000 workers. He said the spinoff from that could
cause a total of 60,000 losses eventually.

The show was Chuck Harder's "For The People". I found it at 9.495 Mhz
on my shortwave, and he is also on some local am stations along with
his internet broadcast. His site is http://www.chuckharder.com.

Harder, who is close friend of Ralph Nader, says the news tip came
from a Boeing employee. His show will end at 4:00 PM EST.

[mistertrickster]

1. I'm from Wichita and this was in our paper this morning--a possible sale

What steams me off is that the city and the state have been subsidizing tax breaks for years. And our reward? Screw you, says Boeing.

"Our government talks about free enterprise. What it does is 'socialize' costs and 'privatize' profits." Noam Chomsky

[OneTwentyoNine]

10. Yeah,and the $$500 million dollar bond issue from Kansas

Of course our local and State leaders never care to get a GD thing in writing--they just shovel cash at Boeing and others and hope they keep their promise. They gave Bombardier money,tax breaks. They employee's took a pay cut and all they've done is lay people off since then. Three hundred more jobs went back to Canada just this month.

Shit,we'll all be working at Walmart before to long. Yet day after day Whore TV raves on and on about our BOOMING ECONOMY. Bullshit...

David

[Danieljay]

13. there are at least 4 Wal Marts

in Wichita, if not 5. Problem is, those "jobs"(slave labor) are already taken by aircraft workers who have run out of unemployment benefits from the last layoffs. Wal-Mart won't be doing so good if people aren't working there. David, best of luck to you, I hope you stay employed in meaningful employment. I'm still not working full time (back in school instead) and my benefits ran out, but I'd rather be unemployed in Portland than employed in Wichita any day of the week. Its beautiful here..and progressive! (oh, and speaking of Wal-Mart, people fight like hell out here to keep them away, I only know of two around here, they aren't welcome)

[SoCalDem]

18. Subsidies to large industry rarely "bear fruit"

They build their factory, they hire locals, who are happy to have the jobs, so of course everyone approves of the subsidies, but eventually they do expire.. Then the company just pulls up stakes and says "see ya".. and off the go to greener pastures.. The city has taken the bite for taxes that they should have paid.. the local people paid extra because the factory paid little or none..

The deals like this should NEVER be made without the whole community voting on it, because they are the ones who will lose in the end..

Walmart is famous for this crap..

[junker]

2. Rumors about KS are reported in our local press here in PNW and

there are 'floor' rumors that affect large parts of the Boeing facilities in PNW. Not working there I only get these second and third hand so will not repeat, however suffice it to say that 2 sets of rumors arose and one (KS plant being sold) is now validated.

So.....

[Chico Man]

3. I was there as a consultant for a few weeks

This is going to be truly devastating. Boeing has been the centerpiece of the Wichita economy since WWII. The whole town was built around supporting airplane production. How sad :(

[CO Liberal]

4. Just Found The Following On Google's News Page

Report: Boeing Company May Sell Wichita Plant

POSTED: 10:38 AM PST January 25, 2004

SEATTLE -- Boeing has no official comment on The Seattle Times report it is considering selling its manufacturing plant at Wichita.

The plant has more than 12,000 workers. No prospective buyer has been identified, but it would continue making components for Boeing planes.

Kansas officials are unsettled by the report. But the governor of Kansas says the state will stand by its commitment to $500 million in bonds for Boeing's new 7E7.

<more>

http://www.kirotv.com/money/2791621/detail.html

[patricia92243]

5. Are they moving to India or somewhere

[damnraddem]

6. It was the main story in the Wichita paper this morning.

The "factory" is a factory complex over two miles long.

[northzax]

7. union busting at it's finest

who might Boeing sell to? it doesn't matter, the only thing you can do with this plant is make parts for boeing planes. Why would Boeing sell it's own factories to someone else? why allow someone else to squeeze a profit margin in there? because a new company can reduce labour costs.

Boeing is a shell of the company it once was, and has lost whatever leadership it once had in aerospace. Airbus has the vision and the money, Boeing has gotten lazy at the federal tit.

[Bozita]

8. I believe you're right on target

bullseye

[OneTwentyoNine]

9. This is a dup,but its still important as hell

First Boeing Wichita doesn't employ 30,000--its about 12,500--they haven't had 30K since the Cold War when we were cranking out B52's right and left. The employment was actually higher then than in WWII.

The story actually came out yesterday in Seattle,it was on the 10:00 pm news here last night. It isn't new,the rumor has been floated several times over the last few years. With Chimpboy and his crap economy it wouldn't surpise me in the least if they went through with it. Plus the fact that Boeing could give a shit about their employee's. They've been outsourcing their asses off and would basically like to just sub out everything and dump employee's.



BTW,isn't that Chuck "black helocopter" Harder?? That guy used to pound on Clinton to no end,I wouldn't give him any more listen time than Pigboy.

[Elwood P Dowd]

17. He's been pounding on Bush lately.

From what I can tell by listening to him and reading his site, the
man is a consumer advocate and not tied to any political party. I
listen to talk radio in the afternoon, and the choices are Limbaugh,
O'Reilly, and Harder. He's big on information about layoffs, consumer
ripoffs, outsourcing, trade figures, media lies, etc.. Pigboy won't
touch that stuff.

[Danieljay]

11. I left Kansas and the aircraft industry

and moved to Portland Oregon last July. My unemployment benefits ran out last month and I was not granted an extension, all extensions were halted after Dec. 20th , my benefits ran out Dec. 27th. My friends back home say the economy there is terrible, a friend of mine recently shutting down her business. Boeing might only employ around 13,000, however, subcontractors make up at least that many more workers who will be affected by this. Wichita business will be devistated by this. I'm glad to be out of the industry AND out of that city. Portland Rocks!

[mike1963]

12. Rumors are flying (!) here in Tulsa that they are going to sell off the

factory here too. Another 2 mile long building, was built during WW2 by McDonnell. Boeing bought it in the late 80s as I seem to recall and not too long ago the local pols were upbeat because they thought the wings for the 7E7 were going to be made here. Maybe they will - by imported Indonesian workers.
:eyes:

[mbperrin]

14. Wow! Look at that *Bush job machine go!

There they go!

[JeebusH]

15. another Red State bleeding jobs ....

Chimpy does it again

16. Being from Kansas

, I lived there for 25 years. Kansas is a "red" state, but it's a funny state. It's the kind of place that is kind of straight up, common-sense conservative -- Goldwater conservative & it was the nerve center of Populism at one point. John Brown's picture is in the capital. It would not be outside the realm of possibility for Kansas to swing against Bush.

[maxsolomon]

19. phase one of boeing's plan

eventually all midwest/texas production will close. then long beach (mcdonnell douglas). the only manufacturing/assembly (emphasis on assembly) facilities remaining will be washington.

we (seattle) win. i guess.

if you live in wichita kansas, you might think about leaving. now.

unless you are a buffalo rancher. buffalo is yummmy!

[pfitz59]

20. I live 3 miles from the Everett plant!

Good news for me. My home will retain equity. I lived in Wichita. Will take Puget Souind any day!!

[militarymanusaf]

22. Stationed in Wichita for 3 years,

and the only buffalo I saw were buffalo wings.

[Danieljay]

23. Until they move production to China

like they did some of the assy jobs from the Wichita plant. This country is being sold out by the huge corporations. I doubt Seattle is any more secure. And by the way, there are very few buffalo in Kansas, just lots of wheat, milo, cattle in the Southwestern corner, lots of conservative churches, Republicans, great home grown tomatos and awesome thunderstorms. The only things I miss since moving to Portland last spring are the tomatos and the thunderstorms.

[Ernesto]

24. You nailed it DJ!

Boeing is outsourcing their next-generation aircraft wings to China... This act will have huge national security ramifications down the road. We are planting the seeds for China's future heavey aircraft industry AND Chinese heavey bombers for their air force.... Imagine this happening on Clinton's watch. The repukes would be going crazy!

[qwertyMike]

21. Outsourcing to India????

[hatrack]

25. $1 Billion In State Bond Money For Boeing Since 1990

Thanks, guys. Thanks a lot.