HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-004 RESOLUTION 2010-004
A RESOLUTION URGING THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO SELECT THE
BOEING COMPANY TO BUILD THE NEXT MID-AIR REFUELING TANKER
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Defense has begun the process to procure the Air
Force's next mid-air refueling tanker; and
WHEREAS, Boeing and Airbus are anticipated to be the competitors to build that tanker; and
WHEREAS, that contract could be worth $35 billion; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. economy is currently struggling through a recession of historic magnitude;
and
WHEREAS, unemployment nationally and in Washington remains around 10%; and
WHEREAS, U.S. taxpayers deserve the best tanker at the least cost; and
WHEREAS, The Boeing Company has a history of producing successful tankers
for the U.S. Air Force and other countries' air forces; and
WHEREAS, Boeing can deliver a better aircraft more quickly to our soldiers, sailors and airmen;
and
WHEREAS, Boeing will build its tankers in Everett, Washington at a proven plant, with a highly
skilled and dedicated regional workforce that has a tradition of building the best airplanes in the
world; and
WHEREAS, the Puget Sound region is home to the vast majority of Boeing's more than 75,000
workers; and
WHEREAS, each job at Boeing supports nearly three additional jobs; and
WHEREAS, Aerospace workers earn an average of more than $50,000 a year - 60 percent higher
than the average for all private sector industries; and
WHEREAS, most aerospace companies are relatively small businesses-many with five to 50
employees; and
WHEREAS, approximately $5.4 billion is paid in annual wages to aerospace workers-five
percent of all wages paid in the state; and
Resolution No. 2010-004 1
WHEREAS, the Arlington City Council values these jobs and the people who hold them, and
will make it a priority to ensure Washington and the Puget Sound region remains the best place
to design, build, and market commercial airplanes; and
WHEREAS, our national security interests are not served by sending this valuable and strategic
program overseas; and
WHEREAS, Airbus has a majority of their workers in Europe, and by their own admission
would only do the finishing work for a tanker in the U.S.- that's as little as 5 percent; and
WHEREAS, awarding the contract to Boeing can create or retain 40,000 to 50,000 American
jobs at a time in history when we desperately need them; and
WHEREAS, U.S. taxpayers are not served by buying tankers from both Boeing and Airbus in
this competition;NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, THE
MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
The U.S. Department of Defense should select Boeing over Airbus to build the next mid-
air refueling tanker; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:
The U.S. Department of Defense should not split the contract between the two
competitors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:
Copies of this Resolution be immediately transmitted by the City Clerk to Boeing
Corporate Offices in Chicago, Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Seattle, the International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the Society of Professional
Engineering Employees in Aerospace.
Passed at a regular meeting this day of I I 2010
CITY OF ARLINGTON
Resolution No. 2010-004 2
Margar6lLarson, Mayor
Attest:
KrIsti"m Banfield
City Clerk
Approved as to form:
S ve WN
Ci Attorney
Resolution No. 2010-004 3
CERTIFICATE OF RESOLUTION
I, Kristin Banfield, City Clerk of the City of Arlington, Washington (the "City"),
do hereby certify that the attached is a full, true and correct copy City of Arlington
Resolution No. 2010-004, passed by the Arlington City Council at their regular meeting
on April 5, 2010.
Kristii Banfield, City Cle k
Dated this 6th day of April 2010