Labor officials representing more than 5,500 local aerospace workers expressed “cautious optimism” Wednesday about the future of the Boeing C-17 program after meeting with members of Congress in Washington, D.C., the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports
Construction of the hulking cargo jet, assembled in Long Beach, is set to end in mid-2009 unless more orders are made in coming months.
During a trade mission to the nation’s capital, Jacki Harris, president of Local 148 of the United Aerospace Workers, said elected leaders from across the country are pushing for funding for more planes, despite an initial rejection of more orders by the White House.
“I’m optimistic because I know how great the airplane is and we know there’s a real need for it, but it’s a very difficult process,” Harris said.
In recent years, the C-17 program, which supports more than 6,000 local union and non-union jobs, has been kept alive by a string of small orders approved by Congress in the waning days of annual budget negotiations.
During visits this week with members of Congress, including California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Harris has promoted a 60-plane order, which she contends will save taxpayers tens of millions and ensure a steady supply of the cargo plane for military and humanitarian purposes for years to come.
