Shortly following industry speculation and a plea from Councilmember Gerrie Schipske towards California and Long Beach officials to ensure the retention of Boeing’s Long Beach workforce, Boeing has ultimately decided to build the planned 777x widebody airliner at its Everett, Washington plant.
The tentative agreement between Boeing and labor union IAM Local 751 was formally announced by Boeing President and CEO Ray Conner Wednesday afternoon and comes as a major blow to its Long Beach workers, numbered nearly 5,000, following the aircraft manufacturer’s announcement earlier this year that it would halt production of its famed C-17 aircraft.
Many had hoped that the C-17 plant would be the new home to the 777x manufacturing site and an aerospace analyst for Forbes.com increased speculation when he noted that Boeing was eyeing its Long Beach site for the project, a location he said made sense since the facilities and workforce could easily handle the production of a new aircraft.
The 777x agreement is still tentative and requires a vote next week by members of Boeing’s main workers union as well as approval by Washington’s lawmakers for the incentive package offered to the firm.
Read more: