IAFF Works to Help Save Boeing Jobs

June 17, 2009 – IAFF members in St. Louis and across Missouri participated in a "Protecting Our Nation, Protecting Our Jobs" rally organized by the Greater St. Louis Labor Council to call attention to the tens of thousands of local jobs at stake if federal cuts are made to the F/A-18 and C-17 aircraft programs, both built by Boeing. Both of these planes are designed and assembled by Boeing in St. Louis.

Missouri Senators Christopher "Kit" Bond and Claire McCaskill also participated, along with St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley, Labor Council Chief Bob Soutier, Missouri AFL-CIO President Hugh McVey and the St. Louis Building Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Feldhaus.

IAFF 2nd District Vice President Mark Woolbright and IAFF Boeing Local I-66 representatives Greg Shollar and Bo Hanna (pictured) met with Boeing Management in an effort to save the production of the F/A-18 and C-17 aircraft. Boeing fire fighters are among the many workers whose jobs are at risk.

Both planes are the two most-used military aircraft in service today in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The regional impact of losing the production of these planes would mean the loss of more than $32 billion in annual revenue to the St. Louis area.

Rally organizers and participants also signed a letter to President Obama asking him to halt this disastrous decision.