So Goes Boeing...so Goes...All of Us?

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A few days ago, I drove past Boeing's Everett Production Facility. And I saw the striking workers.

Full disclosure: I honked.

Actually, I honked twice—both to and fro my destination.

Simply uttering "Boeing" brings up a host of emotions for folks here in the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, I've helped clients enter and exit Boeing. So I've heard the good. I've heard the bad. And I've heard the ugly. And yes, I've visited the Everett facility live and in person. And, of course, I also saw "The Netflix Documentary" heard 'round the world.

So...the strike? I'm not surprised. Layoffs and furloughs? Again, I'm not surprised.

Boeing news is big news locally and regionally. Although Amazon usurped Boeing as Washington's largest employer back in 2020, Boeing is still...Boeing. According to the PSBJ, Boeing is still Washington State's second-largest employer (and still ahead of Microsoft, JBLM, and UW).

Thus, the catchphrases. "So goes Boeing...so goes Seattle." "So goes Boeing...so goes Washington."

But, but, but...Boeing is big news globally as well. Fortune's recent article has a telling title: 'A death spiral of its own making' -- yowzer. That's a big deal for any Fortune 500, much less an aerospace juggernaut like Boeing with global security ramifications.

Even the question "Where is Boeing?" is valid. I remember when Boeing strategically moved its HQ to Chicago. And then they strategically moved the HQ to Arlington (Virginia...not Washington) in 2022. Right next door to the Pentagon. Which, as it happens...I've been inside of as well. There are some good arguments for returning the HQ to Washington. State.

Beyond the "sound argument" that Boeing's HQ should return to the Evergreen State, there's the oddness factor. When I write about all the fantastic Fortune 500s headquartered here in the PNW, it feels strange not calling out Boeing. It's just...odd.

Back to my honking.

Maybe now what Seattleites, Washingtonians, and fellow union members (like me) should do is see the striking workers. Hear them. You don't gotta honk. Maybe we simply need to recognize them.

We find ourselves in strange times. Unemployment is not trending particularly positively (alongside historic "glitches" in unemployment numbers). There are recession rumors. Boeing is on strike after some tough years. Amazon is moving back to RTO in 2025. Strange times indeed.

When I read about strikes anywhere (not just Boeing), I often ponder an alternative: what if, instead of striking, leadership was presented with a massive stack of resignation letters? Isn't a strike an opportunity to listen to the striking workers? Isn't a strike an indication the employees give a bleep? Would leadership prefer resignations en masse instead? Probably not.

So many folks come to me as clients partially because they feel they can't confide in a direct supervisor, their HR pro, or even a union rep. I get it. I do my best to listen and help person-by-person. I try to keep in mind a golden rule of labor relations and human resources: humans are the most valuable resource within an organization. Maybe we all need to let those sentiments sink in more if we work with employees.

Maybe a honk here and there is a very good thing.

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Image:

John Davisson (with Canva and Microsoft Designer). Excuse my limited abilities.

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AI Policy:

This article was not written by generative AI. Human stories? Human writers.

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Extra Credit:

Fortune: 'A death spiral of its own making': Boeing halts hiring, raises, and non-essential travel after thousands of workers walk off the job

https://fortune.com/2024/09/17/boeing-hiring-raises-travel-freeze-death-spiral/

The Seattle Times: On Boeing's factory floor, workers feel 'overmanaged and undersupported'

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/on-boeings-factory-floor-workers-feel-overmanaged-and-undersupported/

The Seattle Times: Amazon surpasses Boeing as Washington's biggest employer

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-surpasses-boeing-as-washington-states-biggest-employer/

Boeing Everett Production Facility:

https://www.boeing.com/company/about-bca/everett-production-facility

PSBJ: Largest Employers in Washington State (2024)

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/subscriber-only/2024/06/14/largest-employers-in-washington-ssate.html

Aviation Week:Opinion: Why Boeing Headquarters Should Move Back to Seattle

https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/manufacturing-supply-chain/opinion-why-boeing-headquarters-should-move-back-seattle

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Mandatory Hashtags:

#Boeing #PNW #LaborRelations #HumanResources #CareerCoaching #Seattle #WashingtonLabor #CareerCounseling #Fortune500 #OpenToWork #Unions #MadeInUSA

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Obligatory Bio:

John Davidsson? He's a multi-award-winning Career Counselor, Resume Writer, Career Coach, and Career Architect based in the Seattle area. He's been recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally as a career development professional. Originally just another poor kid with an ethnic name from an old railroad town, he started his college education on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. He's earned an Ivy League writing award, and his law degree is from the number one legal writing program in the US.

When he's not helping clients, writing, volunteering, or getting into intellectual fistfights, he's an amateur YouTuber. He used to be a semi-pro Dragon Wrangler. Whatever you do, please don't call him a doctor (even though he has an honorary Ph.D.). He rarely runs around calling himself an expert. However, when NBC, The Seattle Times, LinkedIn, Zippia, and the University of Washington call him one, he's OK with that.