Boeing to close Kansas defense plant by end of 2013

[Shadow]

WICHITA, Kan. — The Boeing Co., for decades the brand that helped support Wichita's claim as the aviation capital of the world, announced Wednesday it will shut down facilities in the city by the end of 2013 and send work to plants in three other states as it deals with defense spending cutbacks.
The closure will cost more than 2,160 workers their jobs and end the firm's presence in an area where it has been a major employer for generations.
The decision was not a surprise because Boeing said in November it was looking at closing the Wichita plant. But it still drew an angry response from Kansas lawmakers who helped Boeing land a lucrative Air Force refueling tanker project in February and had expected thousands of jobs to come to Wichita with it. Instead, the work will go to Boeing's facilities near Seattle and Oklahoma City.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45874707...s-us_business/

[darin]

Yay Big Labor Unions! Way to go! :-/

[CSM]

What did people expect? When you cut the defense budget, defense workers get cut. Don't worry though, I am sure all those "unskilled" workers can be trained to do something useful like painting bridges or some other shovel ready jobs which are so prevalent now. Heck, if worse becomes worst, they can be trained to become teachers or social workers.

[fj1200]

WICHITA, Kan. — But it still drew an angry response from Kansas lawmakers who helped Boeing land a lucrative Air Force refueling tanker project in February and had expected thousands of jobs to come to Wichita with it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45874707...s-us_business/

So they either forced the government to make a bad decision based on constituent self-interest or would not have helped the government make a wise decision unless it benefited their constituent self-interest. Either way it proves Congressional stupidity.

[ConHog]

How DARE Boeing do what is best for Boeing.

[Gunny]

Yeah, but you have to feel for Wichita. I had the pleasure of living there when my father was stationed at McConnell AFB. Boeing keeps that place alive.

[CSM]

Just the tip of the iceberg. Wait until all the other defense contractors start laying off folks. It's coming. Just a matter of how soon. The yuppies will rejoice I am sure and the politicians will rant and rave while trying to make political gain but the end result will be thousands out of work. That doesn't include the ripple effect on businesses (big and small) that support those big meanie defense contractors. It's going to be bloody.

[fj1200]

The yuppies will rejoice I am sure...

The yuppies?

[Nukeman]

How DARE Boeing do what is best for Boeing.

Iwould think that Wichita has a much LOWER cost of living that Seatle not to mention the central location of Wchita. I don't understand how boing can claim to save money by shippng everything to a higher cost of living area and also putting everything on the coast. Seems kind of backwards to me..

[CSM]

Iwould think that Wichita has a much LOWER cost of living that Seatle not to mention the central location of Wchita. I don't understand how boing can claim to save money by shippng everything to a higher cost of living area and also putting everything on the coast. Seems kind of backwards to me..

Depends where they get their basic materials. Shipping materials to Kanasas and then product out of Kansas may be a consideration. Also, the cost of doing business in Kansas (not the cost of living) may be a factor. Added to that, with budget cuts looming of already in place, it may make more sense to consolidate on their more robust assets in other locations and drop Kansas altogether. I guess my point is that there could be a lot of factors that have higher impact than just a centralized location and low cost of living for employees.