Major construction unions have agreed to a 24-hour, no-overtime work
schedule if Boeing selects St. Louis as the location for its new jetliner
factory, Gov. Jay Nixon announced Tuesday.
Union leaders of the St. LouisBuilding and Construction Trades Council,
the Eastern Missouri Laborers District Council and the Carpenters District
Council of Greater St. Louis committed to the plan, Nixon said. The proposal
means lower overall costs and faster completion of the plant.
“This unprecedented commitment offers Boeing another reason
to build the 777X right here in the Show Me State,” Nixon said on a conference
call with reporters.
Lawmakers are in special session considering a package of
incentives worth potentially $1.7 billion over 23 years in an attempt to lure
the factory making the updated version of Boeing’s twin-engine aircraft. Debate
will begin tomorrow in the Missouri Senate on the bill, which allows up to $150
million in annual tax benefits.
Boeing, which has $130 billion worth of orders for the
airplane, must begin deliveries in 2020. It is searching for a location for the
factory after union machinists in Washington state voted to reject concessions
sought by Boeing.
Construction union members have not voted on the deal
offered by their leaders but Nixon said he was confident the commitment would
be kept in contracts signed as construction gets underway.
“The union rank and file have not voted but these are
empowered leaders who are empowered to make significant offers of this level
and I am confident they speak for the thousand workers in this regard,” Nixon
said.
The labor concessions are part of the larger package, which
will include local incentives as well, that must be ready to present to Boeing
by next Tuesday. The details of those local incentives have not been announced.
Source: Columbia
Daily Tribune
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