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Washington, D.C., February 29, 2008 - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today expressed outrage over the decision to award a $40 billion aerial refueling tanker
contract to a team led by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS
), parent company of Airbus.
“Today’s decision is a serious blow to a key American industry,” said IAM General Vice President Rich Michalski. “President Bush and his administration have today denied
real economic stimulus to the American people and chosen instead to create jobs in Toulouse, France. This President and Vice President have been allowed for too long to operate
without real accountability and have denied working families the right to see their tax dollars used to support American communities, schools and Main Streets.”
The competition was mandated in 2003, allowing a heavily subsidized European manufacturer, EADS, to bid against Boeing, a U.S. firm that received no subsidies.
“The decision means billions of taxpayer dollars will be used to create and sustain jobs in foreign countries, rather than here in the United States,” said IAM International President Tom
Buffenbarger. “Giving this contract to EADS further hollows out America’s industrial base and rewards a company that has already used $100 million in European government subsidies to grab
nearly 50 percent of the U.S. commercial aircraft market.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents nearly 720,000
members including 35,000 Boeing employees at locations across the country.
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