Machinists, Connecticut Officials Urge Bush to Reconsider Tanker Contract

May 27, 2008 - Machinists, business leaders and state officials gathered at the Connecticut state Capitol last week to announce that the Connecticut General Assembly is sending a letter to President Bush urging him to reconsider the U.S. Air Force’s decision to award a $40 billion aerial refueling tanker contract to the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS).

“We call upon you to halt the contract process for the United States mid-air refueling tanker, and we strongly urge you to immediately and vigorously investigate the proposed outsourcing of taxpayer-funded jobs, its impact on the American economy and the procurement process that made possible this transfer of billions of dollars to foreign entities,” states the letter, which was signed by 177 of 187 members of the legislature.

“We are all tired of watching our jobs streaming overseas and devastating our future,” said District 26 Directing Business Representative Everett Corey. “Having our Government and our taxpayer dollars pay for it is even more appalling.”

The Air Force’s decision not to award the contract to Boeing could impact as many as 44,000 U.S. aircraft and aerospace workers at hundreds of primary and secondary contractors in more than 40 states. Connecticut stands to lose more than 4,000 jobs at Pratt & Whitney in addition to numerous jobs at smaller vendors and suppliers.

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